Compare towns
Needham vs Springfield vs Hingham vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Needham | Springfield | Hingham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
154,749Highest |
24,283Lowest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Springfield | Hingham | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Needham High | Springfield Central High | Hingham High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.2 |
12.9Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.