What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).

Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).

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	Rochester	Dracut
People
Population	33,144Highest	32,574Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S.	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Rochester and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dracut and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rochester and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dracut and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average	$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.	$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S.	$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Lowest 71% above U.S.	$5,375Highest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dracut and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH	#201 of 282 in MA
School district	Rochester School District	Dracut
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	12.9Lowest
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.