Compare towns
Dracut vs Hingham vs Needham vs Billerica
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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Billerica has the shortest commute (27 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 | Needham | Billerica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
24,283Lowest |
32,459 |
42,003Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.3±1.6 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Billerica and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$148,200±$8k 43% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$612,000±$13k 9% 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 | $1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,282±$173 30% 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 | $5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,358 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
42.3%±8.9Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±3.3 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #146 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hingham | Needham | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Hingham High | Needham High | Billerica Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.9 |
11.9Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| 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.