Compare towns
Lenox vs Exeter vs Hull vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hull has the highest household income ($115k).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
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 | Exeter | Hull | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,079 |
16,151Highest |
10,138 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 54% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
56.1±1.8 44% above U.S. |
60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 31% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$115,485±$14kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$112,762±$6k 40% above U.S. |
| Hull and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43k 40% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$646,000±$38k 94% above U.S. |
$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S. |
| Nahant and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,081±$187Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,777±$334 26% above U.S. |
| Hull and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,089 95% above U.S. |
$6,615 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Hull 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #66 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hull | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Exeter High School | Hull High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
12.1Highest |
8.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.