Compare towns

Middleborough vs Mansfield vs Dracut

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleborough has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (20%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

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.

MeasureMiddleboroughMansfieldDracut
People
Population
24,505
23,931Lowest
32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±2.1Highest
9% above MA
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
41.7±2
4% above MA
Middleborough and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.4%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
Mansfield and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±2
MA: 17.9%
Middleborough and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
51.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
Mansfield and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,056±$7kLowest
7% below MA
$125,273±$15kHighest
21% above MA
$114,036±$10k
10% above MA
Mansfield and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$468,700±$18kLowest
17% below MA
$603,500±$28kHighest
7% above MA
$473,900±$17k
16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,706±$72Lowest
3% below MA
$1,803±$147
about the MA average
$1,839±$130Highest
4% above MA
Dracut and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,023
about the MA average
$7,226Highest
21% above MA
$5,375Lowest
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.2%±11.4
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.6%±7.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.9%
MA: 62.5%
73.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
79.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1975Lowest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
7% above MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
30 minLowest
4% above MA
Work from home
13.6%±2.9
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.4%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #170 of 282 in MA #60 of 282 in MA #201 of 282 in MA
School district Middleborough Mansfield Dracut
High school in town Middleborough High Mansfield High Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3
11.1Lowest
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.