Compare towns
Dracut vs Northbridge vs Randolph Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has the most homeowners (79.8%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Randolph Town has the most expensive homes ($496k median).
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 | Northbridge | Randolph Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
16,458Lowest |
34,878Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
41.3±1.8Lowest 3% above MA |
| Northbridge and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Randolph Town and Dracut 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$109,573±$6kLowest 5% above MA |
| Dracut and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$496,400±$21kHighest 12% below MA |
| Randolph Town and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,103±$98Highest 19% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 10% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,644Highest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Randolph Town and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Randolph Town 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #260 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Northbridge | Randolph |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Northbridge High | Randolph High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.8Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.