Compare towns
Dracut vs North Reading vs Billerica
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%).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
Billerica has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | North Reading | Billerica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
15,765Lowest |
42,003Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
43.3±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
| Billerica and North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±1.8Lowest 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% |
18%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Billerica 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% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Billerica and Dracut 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$148,200±$8kHighest 43% above MA |
| Billerica and North Reading 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 |
$612,000±$13k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$2,282±$173Highest 30% above MA |
| Billerica and North Reading 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 |
$6,358 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.3%±8.9Lowest 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading and Billerica 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #146 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | North Reading | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | North Reading High | Billerica Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.1Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| 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.