Compare towns
Dracut vs Jay vs Middleborough
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%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% 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 | Jay | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
471Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Jay and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleborough 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,706±$72Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,023Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Middleborough 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 | — | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.