Compare towns
Methuen vs Milford vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Milford has the most people working from home (14.5%).
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 | Methuen | Milford | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
30,431Lowest |
32,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.7±2Highest 4% above MA |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Milford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$476,700±$12k 15% below MA |
$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
| Methuen and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA |
$1,839±$130 4% above MA |
| Milford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,869Highest about the MA average |
$5,375 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Milford and Methuen 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Methuen | Milford | Dracut |
| High school in town | Methuen High | Milford High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.