Compare towns
Andover vs Dracut vs Williston
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).
Dracut has the youngest population (median age 41.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,652Highest |
32,574 |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Dracut 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Williston 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. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.