What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dartmouth has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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	Dartmouth	Dracut
People
Population	33,328Highest	32,574Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±2Highest 6% above MA	41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA
	Dartmouth and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dartmouth and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,839±$8kLowest 4% below MA	$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA
	Dracut and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$496,500±$20kHighest 12% below MA	$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA
	Dartmouth and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$159Lowest 17% below MA	$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,263Lowest 29% below MA	$5,375Highest 10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dracut and Dartmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest MA: 10%	7.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	12.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dartmouth 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	#115 of 282 in MA	#201 of 282 in MA
School district	Dartmouth	Dracut
High school in town	Dartmouth High	Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.