What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norton has the most people working from home (19%).

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	Norton
People
Population	32,574Highest	19,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Highest 4% above MA	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average
	Dracut and Norton 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%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dracut and Norton 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%	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dracut and Norton 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%	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kLowest 10% above MA	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA
	Norton 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	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA
	Norton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
	Norton 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	$5,929Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dracut and Norton 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 4% above MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#201 of 282 in MA	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Dracut	Norton
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.9Lowest
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.