Compare towns
Dracut vs Sheldon vs Tyngsborough
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).
Tyngsborough has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Tyngsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
2,267Lowest |
12,550 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
23.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Tyngsborough 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% |
14.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Tyngsborough and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$129,348±$18kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Tyngsborough and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$552,500±$34kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,986±$404Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Tyngsborough and Dracut 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. |
$7,426Highest 138% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.2%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tyngsborough and Dracut 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tyngsborough 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 | — | #174 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.