Compare towns
Lenox vs Dover vs Hull vs Nahant
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Lenox | Dover | Hull | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,079 |
2,308Lowest |
10,138Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
47.5±4Lowest 19% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Nahant and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
— | $2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Hull and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | — | Hull | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | — | Hull High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
— | 8.8Highest |
— |
| 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.