Compare towns
Everett vs Dracut vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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.
| Measure | Everett | Dracut | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
32,574 |
24,155Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
41.7±2 4% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Everett and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,375 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Dracut | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Everett High | Dracut Senior High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9 |
13.5Highest |
| 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.