Compare towns

Dracut vs Haverhill 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 the highest household income ($114k).
Haverhill has the most people working from home (12.5%).
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.

MeasureDracutHaverhillLowell
People
Population
32,574Lowest
67,698
118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.7%
MA: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+8.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.7±2Highest
4% above MA
39.4±1.1
about the MA average
35.6±0.8Lowest
11% below MA
Dracut and Haverhill 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%
21.3%±1.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.7%±1.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
Lowell and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±1.2
MA: 17.9%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Dracut and Haverhill 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%
32.6%
MA: 47.3%
30%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,036±$10kHighest
10% above MA
$88,326±$4k
15% below MA
$78,658±$4kLowest
24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$473,900±$17kHighest
16% below MA
$453,900±$9k
19% below MA
$429,200±$11kLowest
24% below MA
Dracut and Haverhill 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
$1,668±$49
5% below MA
$1,625±$40Lowest
8% below MA
Dracut and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,375Highest
10% below MA
$4,772
20% below MA
$4,499Lowest
25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.6%±7.4
MA: 51.8%
60.2%±5.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±3.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Haverhill and Dracut 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%
11.3%
MA: 10%
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
62.8%
MA: 62.5%
43.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1964
same as MA
1953Lowest
11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
4% above MA
27 minLowest
6% below MA
28 min
4% below MA
Work from home
11.4%±2
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±1.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.6%±1.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Haverhill 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 #243 of 282 in MA #255 of 282 in MA
School district Dracut Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical Lowell
High school in town Dracut Senior High Haverhill High Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
12.5Lowest
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.