Compare towns
Dracut vs Middleborough vs Ware vs Lowell
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Ware | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
24,505 |
10,048Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
43.4±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Middleborough and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$97,056±$7k 7% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% 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 | $5,375 10% below MA |
$6,023Highest about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Middleborough and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Middleborough | Ware | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Middleborough High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.3 |
11.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.