Compare towns
Dracut vs Middlesex vs Andover vs Pelham
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 affordable homes ($376k median).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
1,943Lowest |
36,652Highest |
14,449 |
| 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% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Andover 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Pelham 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% 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. |
$552,600±$27k 66% 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. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Dracut 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% 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% |
22.8%±3.3 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.