Compare towns
Dracut vs Upton vs Lowell vs Andover
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%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k 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.
| Measure | Dracut | Upton | Lowell | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
8,189Lowest |
118,368Highest |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Upton and Andover 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
| Andover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 10% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lowell | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Blackstone Valley | Lowell High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.