What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has the most people working from home (14.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Milford	Dracut
People
Population	30,431Lowest	32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average	41.7±2Highest 4% above MA
	Dracut and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dracut and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2Lowest 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+	35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dracut and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA	$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,700±$12kHighest 15% below MA	$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA
	Milford and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA	$1,839±$130Lowest 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	$5,869Highest about the MA average	$5,375Lowest 10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±8.5Lowest 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	7.6%Lowest MA: 10%	7.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	30 minLowest 4% above MA
Work from home	14.5%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Milford and Dracut 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	#213 of 282 in MA	#201 of 282 in MA
School district	Milford	Dracut
High school in town	Milford High	Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.