Compare towns
Andover vs Brookline vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k 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 | Andover | Brookline | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
5,736Lowest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Brookline School District | Dracut |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | None in town | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.