Compare towns
Lowell vs Lawrence vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
88,736 |
32,574Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
41.7±2Highest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$473,900±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
| Dracut and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,375Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Lawrence | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Lawrence High School | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
13.6 |
12.9Lowest |
| 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.