Compare towns
Lowell vs Upton vs Lynn 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).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Upton | Lynn | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
8,189Lowest |
101,709 |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
41.7±2 4% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Upton 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%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
| Upton 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±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
| Dracut and Lynn 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$5,375 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lynn | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Blackstone Valley | Lynn English High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
11.2Lowest |
15.0Highest |
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.