Compare towns
Dracut vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Hardwick | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
2,684Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Hardwick and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 10% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Quabbin | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.