Compare towns
Dracut vs Lowell vs Ogunquit vs Billerica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Billerica has the highest household income ($148k).
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 | Lowell | Ogunquit | Billerica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
118,368Highest |
1,379Lowest |
42,003 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.3±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$148,200±$8kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Billerica and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$612,000±$13k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
— | $2,282±$173Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,358Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.3%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Lowell 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.5%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | — | #146 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Lowell | — | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Lowell High | — | Billerica Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— | 14.1 |
| 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.