Compare towns
Dracut vs Mapleton vs Union 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
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Mapleton | Union | Billerica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
42,003Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.3±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Billerica and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Billerica 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±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$148,200±$8kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$612,000±$13kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$2,282±$173Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$6,358Highest 104% 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% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.3%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Billerica 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% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Billerica and Union 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 | — | — | #146 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | None in town | Billerica Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
— | — | 14.1Highest |
| 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.