Compare towns
Dracut vs Middlesex vs Andover vs Middleborough
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%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% 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 | Middlesex | Andover | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
1,943Lowest |
36,652Highest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Middleborough 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleborough and Middlesex 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Middlesex 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 | — | #68 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.8 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.