Compare towns
Andover vs Dracut vs Ogunquit vs Acton
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 highest household income ($173k).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% 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 | Andover | Dracut | Ogunquit | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,574 |
1,379Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Acton 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton 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±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| Andover and Acton 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. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Acton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Acton 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut | — | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut Senior High | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9 |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.