Compare towns
Dracut vs Dunbarton vs Sutton 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%).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (14.8%).
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 | Dunbarton | Sutton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
3,097 |
2,239Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Dracut 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% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | — | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Dunbarton School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
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.