Compare towns
Dracut vs Sheldon vs Lowell vs Middleborough
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Middleborough 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.
| Measure | Dracut | Sheldon | Lowell | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
2,267Lowest |
118,368Highest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.4±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Middleborough and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Lowell 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleborough 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$6,023Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middleborough and Sheldon 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lowell | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Lowell High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 14.8Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.