What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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	Westfield	Dracut
People
Population	40,378Highest	32,574Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average	41.7±2Highest 4% above MA
	Dracut and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dracut and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Westfield and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA	$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA	$473,900±$17kHighest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA	$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Lowest 21% below MA	$5,375Highest 10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dracut and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest MA: 10%	7.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dracut and Westfield 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	#197 of 282 in MA	#201 of 282 in MA
School district	Westfield	Dracut
High school in town	Westfield High	Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.