Compare towns

Springfield vs Dracut vs Newport

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Newport has the shortest commute (15 min average).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldDracutNewport
People
Population
9,084
32,574Highest
4,394Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
41.7±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
46.4±4.3Highest
19% above U.S.
Newport and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dracut and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Newport and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Dracut and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
$114,036±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$54,646±$12kLowest
32% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$192,400±$20k
42% below U.S.
$473,900±$17kHighest
42% above U.S.
$179,400±$11kLowest
46% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100
32% below U.S.
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$850±$49Lowest
40% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$5,375Highest
72% above U.S.
$4,036Lowest
29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.2%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dracut and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
23%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
15 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.8%±8.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newport and Springfield 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 #64 of 70 in VT #201 of 282 in MA #63 of 70 in VT
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Dracut Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District
High school in town Springfield High School Dracut Senior High North Country Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
12.9
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.