Compare towns
Dracut vs Reading vs Wakefield vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Reading | Wakefield | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
25,612Lowest |
27,793 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Reading and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
| Reading and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 10% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Wakefield 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Reading | — | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Reading Memorial High | — | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.1Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.