What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chelmsford has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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	Chelmsford
People
Population	32,574Lowest	36,446Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Highest 4% above MA	41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA
	Dracut and Chelmsford 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%	21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Chelmsford and Dracut 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%	18.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dracut and Chelmsford 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 MA: 47.3%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Chelmsford 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 10% above MA	$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA	$593,700±$17kHighest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA	$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA
	Chelmsford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Lowest 10% below MA	$8,047Highest 34% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dracut and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 4% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#201 of 282 in MA	#79 of 282 in MA
School district	Dracut	Chelmsford
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Chelmsford High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.