What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dracut has the shortest commute (30 min average).

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dracut	Lunenburg
People
Population	32,574Highest	11,902Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA	43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA
	Lunenburg and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dracut and Lunenburg 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%	17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dracut and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dracut and Lunenburg 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 10% above MA	$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA
	Dracut and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kHighest 16% below MA	$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA
	Dracut and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA	$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA
	Lunenburg and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Lowest 10% below MA	$6,401Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8%	45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dracut and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 4% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA
School district	Dracut	Lunenburg
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Lunenburg High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.