Compare towns
Dracut vs Marion vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Marion has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Marion | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
5,310Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Andover and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Andover and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$653,500±$47k 16% above MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
$5,766 4% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Andover and Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Marion | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.