Compare towns
Dracut vs Wareham 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 the highest household income ($114k).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Wareham | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
23,302Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 4% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Dracut 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Highest 10% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Wareham | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Wareham Senior High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
8.6Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.