What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plaistow has the most people working from home (13.6%).

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	Plaistow
People
Population	32,574Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S.	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Dracut and Plaistow 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%	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dracut and Plaistow 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%	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dracut and Plaistow 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%	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dracut and Plaistow 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.	$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S.
	Dracut and Plaistow 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.	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Dracut and Plaistow 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.	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dracut and Plaistow 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%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plaistow and Dracut 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	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Dracut	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.4Lowest
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.