What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

Milford has the most people working from home (14.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dracut	Milford
People
Population	32,574Highest	30,431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Highest 4% above MA	38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average
	Dracut and Milford 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%	20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dracut and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Milford 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%	35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dracut and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA	$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA	$476,700±$12kHighest 15% below MA
	Milford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA	$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA
	Milford and Dracut 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	$5,869Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8%	56.8%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dracut and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	7.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 4% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	14.5%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Milford 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	#213 of 282 in MA
School district	Dracut	Milford
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Milford High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.