What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dracut	Orford
People
Population	32,574Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dracut and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.	$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S.
	Dracut and Orford 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.	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Dracut and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S.	$5,836Highest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dracut and Orford 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	—
School district	Dracut	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	9.5Lowest
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.