Compare towns
Dracut vs Pelham vs Lowell vs Andover
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%).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k 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 | Pelham | Lowell | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
14,449Lowest |
118,368Highest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Pelham 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Pelham School District | Lowell | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Pelham High School | Lowell High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.4Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.