Compare towns
Methuen vs Hingham vs Attleboro vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hingham has the most people working from home (33.1%).
Attleboro has the most renters (33.8% 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 | Methuen | Hingham | Attleboro | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
24,283Lowest |
46,762 |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
39.8±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.7±2 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.9%±2 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$98,954±$6kLowest 5% below MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$448,100±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,590±$83Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,839±$130 4% above MA |
| Hingham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,366 10% below MA |
$5,375 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
48%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4 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 | 7.9% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
66.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #236 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #185 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Hingham | Attleboro | Dracut |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Hingham High | Attleboro High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.9Lowest |
15.3Highest |
12.9Lowest |
| 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.