What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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	Plainville
People
Population	32,574Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville 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%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Dracut 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.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Highest 72% above U.S.	$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dracut and Plainville 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%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%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.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dracut and Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Dracut	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.