Compare towns
Lowell vs Suffield 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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).
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 | Suffield | Worcester | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
15,702Lowest |
207,055Highest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%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. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest 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% |
18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Suffield 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% |
40.4%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% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Dracut 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%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. |
1979Highest 1 yr 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. |
26 min 3% below 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% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #266 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Suffield School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Suffield High School | South High Community | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.9Lowest |
14.6 |
12.9 |
| 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.