Compare towns
Andover vs Dracut vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Dracut | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,574 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
41.7±2 4% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$114,036±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #68 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut Senior High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.