Compare towns
Lowell vs Fall River vs Worcester vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Fall River | Worcester | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
94,082 |
207,055Highest |
32,574Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.7±2Highest 4% above MA |
| Dracut and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dracut and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$473,900±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,375Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Dracut 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | B M C Durfee High | South High Community | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.3Lowest |
14.6 |
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.