Compare towns
Dracut vs Springfield vs Andover 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Springfield | Andover | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574Lowest |
154,749Highest |
36,652 |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Andover 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 10% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Springfield | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Springfield Central High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.2Lowest |
12.8 |
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.