What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Danby	Dracut
People
Population	1,133Lowest	32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S.	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dracut and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S.	$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S.	$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S.	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,543Lowest 46% above U.S.	$5,375Highest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dracut and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Danby 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	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63	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

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.