Compare towns

Brookline vs Dracut vs Andover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).

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.

MeasureBrooklineDracutAndover
People
Population
531Lowest
32,574Highest
616
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
41.7±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
49.2±5.1Highest
26% above U.S.
Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dracut and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dracut and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
$114,036±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$102,500±$38k
27% above U.S.
Dracut and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
$473,900±$17kHighest
42% above U.S.
$382,900±$68k
15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,389±$364Lowest
about the U.S. average
Dracut and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
$5,375Highest
72% above U.S.
$5,190
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
69.4%±47.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.6%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Andover and Brookline 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 — Dracut —
High school 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.