Compare towns
Dracut vs Acton vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% 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 | Dracut | Acton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
24,155Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Acton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
| Acton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Acton-Boxborough | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
13.5 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.