Compare towns
Dracut vs Bow vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
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 | Bow | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
8,335Lowest |
23,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford 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% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Dracut 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Dracut 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. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Bow 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Bow School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Bow High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.