Compare towns
Lowell vs Windsor 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
Lowell has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Windsor | Worcester | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
1,065Lowest |
207,055Highest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.7±2 4% above MA |
| Windsor 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 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Windsor 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% |
41.5%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% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
| Windsor 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 24% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$473,900±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
— | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,375Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%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 |
1970 6 yrs newer 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 |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | — | South High Community | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.6 |
12.9Lowest |
| 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.