Compare towns
Dracut vs Newfields vs Windham vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% 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 | Newfields | Windham | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
2,023Lowest |
16,038 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Newfields 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Windham 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Windham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Newfields School District | Windham School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Windham High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 12.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.