What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).

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	North Reading
People
Population	32,574Highest	15,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA
	North Reading and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dracut and North Reading 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 MA: 47.3%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dracut and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kLowest 10% above MA	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	North Reading 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	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
	North Reading 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	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading 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 MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975 11 yrs newer than MA	1975 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 4% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#201 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Dracut	North Reading
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.1Lowest
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.