Compare towns
Hull vs Lenox vs Townsend vs Hull
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Hull | Lenox | Townsend | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,138Highest |
5,079Lowest |
9,100 |
10,138Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
| Lenox and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
| Townsend and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089Highest about the MA average |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | Lenox | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Hull High | Lenox Memorial High | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8 |
7.6Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.