Compare towns
Dracut vs Dorset vs Andover
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 the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Andover has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Dorset | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
2,092Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Andover 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% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Andover 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 |
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.