Compare towns
Needham vs Upton vs Hingham
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Upton | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
8,189Lowest |
24,283 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% 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 |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hingham |
| High school in town | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.