What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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	Rochester
People
Population	32,574Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S.
	Rochester 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%	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dracut and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rochester 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%	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dracut and Rochester 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.	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S.	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Highest 72% above U.S.	$5,334Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dracut and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%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.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Dracut	Rochester School District
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Lowest	13.2Highest
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.