Compare towns
Dracut vs Halifax vs Lowell
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%).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Halifax | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
7,748Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Halifax and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Lowell 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% |
18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
| Halifax 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±$17k 16% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Halifax 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 4% above MA |
$1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
| Dracut and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 10% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Dracut 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Halifax | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | 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 |
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.