Compare towns

Brookline vs Dracut vs Westminster

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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrooklineDracutWestminster
People
Population
531
32,574Highest
497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
41.7±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Dracut 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%
19.7%±11.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster 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%
45.4%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%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
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.
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
$473,900±$17kHighest
42% above U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
Dracut and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$5,375Highest
72% above U.S.
$4,480Lowest
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dracut and Brookline 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%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 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
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
30 min
13% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster 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 #53 of 70 in VT
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.