Compare towns
Dracut vs Hingham vs Marblehead vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% 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 | Marblehead | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
24,283 |
20,413Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below 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%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest 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% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below 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±$17k 16% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
| 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 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 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% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest 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 |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest 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 | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hingham | Marblehead | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Hingham High | Marblehead High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.9 |
10.7Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.