Compare towns
Lowell vs Reading vs Worcester vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
25,612Lowest |
207,055Highest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% 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%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest 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 |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% 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 | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,733 21% 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% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 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 |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Reading | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Reading Memorial High | South High Community | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
14.6 |
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.