Compare towns
Needham vs Windham vs Hingham vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Windham | Hingham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
16,038Lowest |
24,283 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kLowest 121% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
| Newton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$2,370±$81Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Windham School District | Hingham | Newton |
| High school in town | Needham High | Windham High School | Hingham High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.8 |
12.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.