Compare towns
Lowell vs Mapleton vs Dracut vs New Bedford
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 youngest population (median age 35.6).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
New Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Dracut | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
1,884Lowest |
32,574 |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
37±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Dracut 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Bedford and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton and Dracut 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$56,981±$3kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Dracut and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$357,300±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,137±$26 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,338 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±3.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and New Bedford 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dracut and Mapleton 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Dracut | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Dracut Senior High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.9Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.