Compare towns

Epping vs Bow vs Dracut

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Dracut has the most renters (20.2% 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.

MeasureEppingBowDracut
People
Population
7,430Lowest
8,335
32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±3.5Highest
16% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
41.7±2
7% above U.S.
Epping and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Epping and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,220±$7kLowest
29% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$114,036±$10k
41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,900±$35kLowest
31% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$473,900±$17k
42% above U.S.
Bow and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,742±$576
23% above U.S.
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Dracut and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,936
122% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$5,375Lowest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
24%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Epping and Bow 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 #77 of 120 in NH #26 of 120 in NH #201 of 282 in MA
School district Epping School District Bow School District Dracut
High school in town Epping High School Bow High School Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
12.8
12.9Highest
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.