What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dracut	Merrimack
People
Population	32,574Highest	28,164Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S.	41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Dracut and Merrimack 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Merrimack and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dracut and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S.	$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Dracut 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.	$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S.
	Dracut and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Lowest 30% above U.S.	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S.	$7,345Highest 135% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#201 of 282 in MA	#58 of 120 in NH
School district	Dracut	Merrimack School District
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Merrimack High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.