Compare towns
Dracut vs Derry vs Middleborough
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%).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Middleborough has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Derry | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
21,339Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41±3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Middleborough 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Derry 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% |
14.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleborough 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry 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±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$91,673±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$391,200±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,549±$137Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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. |
$7,278Highest 133% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and Middleborough 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | — | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | — | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.