What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dracut has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	32,574Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Durham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Durham 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.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#201 of 282 in MA	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Dracut	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 photos →

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.