Compare towns
Dracut vs Needham vs Hingham vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Needham | Hingham | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
32,459 |
24,283Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below 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±$130 4% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Needham | Hingham | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Needham High | Hingham High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.9Lowest |
12.9 |
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.