Compare towns
Douglas vs Dracut vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% rent).
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 | Douglas | Dracut | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
32,574Highest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
| Douglas and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$473,900±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
$468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA |
| Dracut and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.8% MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Middleborough 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Dracut | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Dracut Senior High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.