Compare towns
Dracut vs Plainville 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 the youngest population (median age 41.7).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Plainville | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
17,551Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest 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% 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% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Plainville High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.