Compare towns
Dracut vs Mapleton vs Needham
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 the youngest population (median age 41.7).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Mapleton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
1,884Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Needham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Dracut 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Needham 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Needham |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.