Compare towns
Lowell vs Everett vs Springfield vs Dracut
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Dracut has the most homeowners (79.8%).
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 | Springfield | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
50,045 |
154,749Highest |
32,574Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.7±2Highest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,839±$130 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,375Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dracut and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Everett | Springfield | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Everett High | Springfield Central High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.