What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).

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	Fairhaven
People
Population	32,574Highest	15,903Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dracut and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dracut and Fairhaven 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 10% above MA	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Dracut and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kHighest 16% below MA	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
	Dracut and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Highest 10% below MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dracut and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 4% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	11.4%±2 MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#201 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Dracut	Fairhaven
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.