Compare towns
Dracut vs Andover vs Lowell vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Andover | Lowell | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574Lowest |
36,652 |
118,368Highest |
53,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover 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% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Methuen 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% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell | Methuen |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.