What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dracut	Wolfeboro
People
Population	32,574Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dracut and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.	$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Dracut and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
	Wolfeboro and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Highest 72% above U.S.	$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#201 of 282 in MA	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Dracut	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.