Compare towns
Lowell vs Windham vs Everett 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 affordable homes ($429k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Dracut has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Windham | Everett | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
16,038Lowest |
50,045 |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Everett 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Windham School District | Everett | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Windham High School | Everett High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.