What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Sheldon
People
Population	32,574Highest	2,267Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S.	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Dracut and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sheldon and Dracut 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%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.	$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S.	$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Highest 72% above U.S.	$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sheldon 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	—
School district	Dracut	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9	—
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.