Compare towns
Dracut vs Waterville vs Andover
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%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Waterville | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574 |
680Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Dracut 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Waterville 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. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Waterville 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | — | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.