What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dartmouth has the shortest commute (27 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dracut	Dartmouth
People
Population	32,574Lowest	33,328Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA	42.5±2Highest 6% above MA
	Dartmouth and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	14.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dartmouth 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 MA: 47.3%	39%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA	$99,839±$8kLowest 4% below MA
	Dracut and Dartmouth 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	$496,500±$20kHighest 12% below MA
	Dartmouth and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA	$1,462±$159Lowest 17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Highest 10% below MA	$4,263Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8%	54%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dracut and Dartmouth 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%	6.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	76%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 4% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dartmouth and Dracut 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	#115 of 282 in MA
School district	Dracut	Dartmouth
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Dartmouth High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.9Lowest
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.