Compare towns
Lowell vs Reading vs Springfield vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Reading | Springfield | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
25,612Lowest |
154,749Highest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.7±2 4% above MA |
| Reading 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,839±$130 4% above MA |
| Reading and Dracut 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,375 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
79.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Reading | Springfield | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Reading Memorial High | Springfield Central High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.