Compare towns
Putney vs Hingham vs Needham vs Westmoreland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Putney | Hingham | Needham | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
24,283 |
32,459Highest |
2,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
48.4±2.4 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westmoreland and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$104,444±$28k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47k 241% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$351,800±$12k 6% 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 | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,354±$280 4% below 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 | $5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,643 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest 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 | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hingham | Needham | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.