Compare towns
Lowell vs Putney 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).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Putney | Worcester | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
2,622Lowest |
207,055Highest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%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. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Putney 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Putney 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% |
48.6%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Putney 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% |
16% 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% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest 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. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Worcester 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #266 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.