Compare towns
Andover vs Dracut vs Gorham vs Milton
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 oldest population (median age 42.9).
Dracut has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Dracut | Gorham | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,574 |
18,300Lowest |
28,587 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±1.8 6% 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% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Gorham 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Milton 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut | Gorham Public Schools | Milton |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut Senior High | Gorham High School | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
12.9Highest |
12.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.