Compare towns
Lowell vs Gorham vs Worcester 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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Gorham has the most people working from home (19%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Gorham | Worcester | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
18,300Lowest |
207,055Highest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #266 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Gorham Public Schools | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Gorham High School | South High Community | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.9Lowest |
14.6 |
12.9Lowest |
| 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.