Compare towns
Dracut vs Mapleton vs Standish vs Lowell
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Standish has the most people working from home (13.6%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% 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 | Mapleton | Standish | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
1,884Lowest |
10,662 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8 4% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Lowell 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% |
15.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Standish and Lowell 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Standish 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$983±$453 30% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,005 4% below U.S. |
$4,499 44% 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% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Standish 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Standish 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 12.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.