Compare towns
Dracut vs Methuen vs Windham vs Tyngsborough
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 the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Tyngsborough has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Methuen | Windham | Tyngsborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
53,475Highest |
16,038 |
12,550Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Windham 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% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Tyngsborough 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% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Methuen 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% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Tyngsborough and Methuen 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. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$129,348±$18k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$552,500±$34k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,986±$404 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,426 138% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.2%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tyngsborough and Dracut 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Tyngsborough 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #174 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Methuen | Windham School District | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Methuen High | Windham High School | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.1Highest |
12.8 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.