Compare towns
Dracut vs Hingham vs Marblehead vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Andover has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Marblehead | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
24,283 |
20,413Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Hingham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Hingham 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hingham | Marblehead | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Hingham High | Marblehead High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.