Compare towns
Dracut vs Meredith vs Andover
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%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
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 | Meredith | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
6,758Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above 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% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Inter-Lakes High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.