Compare towns
Dracut vs Hampton vs Mapleton vs Union
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%).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
16,426 |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dracut and Mapleton 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 41% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Dracut and Hampton 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. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Union 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dracut | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.