Compare towns
Lowell vs Mapleton 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
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Dracut has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Worcester | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
1,884Lowest |
207,055Highest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest 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. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above 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%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Lowell 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% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above 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. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%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. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older 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. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | South High Community | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 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.