Compare towns
Lowell vs Woonsocket vs Lynn 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Dracut has the most homeowners (79.8%).
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 | Woonsocket | Lynn | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
43,521 |
101,709 |
32,574Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn and Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
| Lynn and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,722±$60 22% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,384Highest 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% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #277 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Lynn | Dracut |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Woonsocket High School | Lynn English High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
15.2Highest |
15.0 |
12.9Lowest |
| 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.