Compare towns
Brighton vs Dracut vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Brighton | Dracut | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
32,574Highest |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.7±5.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dracut and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$156,300±$18kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$810±$94 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Dracut 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Dracut | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.