Compare towns
Dracut vs Ossipee vs Wolfeboro vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Ossipee | Wolfeboro | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
4,521Lowest |
6,571 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #100 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.