Compare towns
Dracut vs Middleborough vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Middleborough has the most people working from home (13.6%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Middleborough | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
24,505 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
43.4±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Middleborough and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut and Townsend 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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 16% below MA |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Middleborough and Dracut 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Middleborough | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Middleborough High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.