Compare towns
Dracut vs Hingham vs Hooksett vs Dartmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Dartmouth has the most renters (24% 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 | Dracut | Hingham | Hooksett | Dartmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
24,283 |
15,057Lowest |
33,328Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.5±2 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$99,839±$8kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$496,500±$20k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,462±$159Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hingham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,263Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #115 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hingham | Hooksett School District | Dartmouth |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Hingham High | None in town | Dartmouth High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.9Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.