What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).

Northwood has the most people working from home (18.7%).

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	Northwood
People
Population	32,574Highest	4,688Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	42.4±7.8Highest 9% above U.S.
	Northwood 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 U.S.: 22%	18%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dracut and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northwood 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dracut and Northwood 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 41% above U.S.	$129,375±$23kHighest 60% above U.S.
	Northwood 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±$17kHighest 42% above U.S.	$363,000±$13kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,201±$372Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S.	$5,806Highest 86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.7%±29.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dracut and Northwood 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%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	37 minHighest 38% above U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northwood and Dracut 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	#24 of 120 in NH
School district	Dracut	Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.