Compare towns
Unity vs Dracut vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (24 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.
| Measure | Unity | Dracut | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
32,574Highest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dracut and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$228,000±$62kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,099±$85Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Dracut and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$5,143Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dracut and Unity 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 | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Dracut | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.