Compare towns
Newfields vs Hingham vs Needham vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
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 | Newfields | Hingham | Needham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
24,283 |
32,459Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Needham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Hingham | Needham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Needham High | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.