What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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	Orford	Dracut
People
Population	1,295Lowest	32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dracut and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S.	$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Dracut and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.	$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S.	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.
	Dracut and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,836Highest 87% above U.S.	$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dracut and Orford 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	—	#201 of 282 in MA
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Dracut
High school in town	Rivendell Academy	Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	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.