Compare towns
Dracut vs Hooksett vs Acton vs Randolph Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Randolph Town has the most renters (28.7% 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 | Hooksett | Acton | Randolph Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
15,057Lowest |
24,155 |
34,878Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Acton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph Town 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph Town and Hooksett 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 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$109,573±$6kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$496,400±$21k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,103±$98Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Randolph Town and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,644 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph Town and Dracut 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #260 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Acton-Boxborough | Randolph |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Randolph High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | 13.5 |
14.2Highest |
| 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.