What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	Dracut	Amherst
People
Population	32,574Highest	11,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Amherst 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 U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dracut and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Dracut and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#201 of 282 in MA	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Dracut	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.