Compare towns
Dracut vs Fairhaven vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Fairhaven | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
15,903Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 10% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Fairhaven | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Fairhaven High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.