Compare towns
Dracut vs Windham vs Andover vs Lowell
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%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
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 | Windham | Andover | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
19,188Lowest |
36,652 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
42.9±1Highest 10% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Andover and Windham 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% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Lowell 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% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #68 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | RSU 14 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Windham High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.