Compare towns
Springfield vs Needham vs Hingham
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).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Springfield | Needham | Hingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
32,459 |
24,283Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$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 | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above 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 | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Springfield 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Needham | Hingham |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Needham High | Hingham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.9Lowest |
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.