Compare towns
Lowell vs Everett 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
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Dracut has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Lowell | Everett | Bow | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
50,045 |
8,335Lowest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Everett | Bow School District | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Everett High | Bow High School | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
12.9 |
| 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.