Compare towns
Dracut vs Chilmark vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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.
| Measure | Dracut | Chilmark | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
1,578Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Andover and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Chilmark and Andover 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Andover and Chilmark 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 | — | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Up-Island Regional | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.