What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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	Milton	Dracut
People
Population	4,538Lowest	32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±2.4Highest 17% above U.S.	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Milton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dracut and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dracut and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dracut and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,493±$27kLowest 17% above U.S.	$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Dracut and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S.	$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,587±$318Lowest 12% above U.S.	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.
	Dracut and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,663Highest 82% above U.S.	$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.6%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Milton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Milton 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	#116 of 120 in NH	#201 of 282 in MA
School district	Milton School District	Dracut
High school in town	Nute High School	Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.