Compare towns
Dracut vs Milford vs Upton
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%).
Milford has the most renters (34.8% rent).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Milford | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
30,431 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Dracut 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$10k 10% above MA |
$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton 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±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$476,700±$12k 15% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below 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 |
$5,869 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Milford | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Milford High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9 |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.