Compare towns
Dracut vs Needham vs Exeter vs Andover
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 the youngest population (median age 41.7).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% 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 | Needham | Exeter | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
32,459 |
16,151Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Andover 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Exeter 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Andover 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Needham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Needham High | Exeter High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.