Compare towns
Springfield vs Hingham vs Needham vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Springfield | Hingham | Needham | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
24,283Lowest |
32,459 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Hingham | Needham | Lynn |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Hingham High | Needham High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.9 |
11.9Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| 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.