Compare towns
Lowell vs Unity 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 renters (56.8% rent).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
1,375Lowest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dracut and Lowell 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Unity School District | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | None in town | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.