Compare towns
Dracut vs Hudson vs Barrington
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%).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Hudson | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
25,557 |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington 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% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson 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% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Barrington 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. |
$124,213±$6kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Hudson 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±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Dracut 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. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hudson and Barrington 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Hudson School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Alvirne High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.