Compare towns
Dracut vs Dummerston vs Danby vs Lowell
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%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Danby | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
2,090 |
1,133Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Danby and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Dummerston 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. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,543 46% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Lowell 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Danby 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 | — | — | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.