Compare towns
Berwick vs Dracut vs Mapleton vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
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 | Berwick | Dracut | Mapleton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
32,574Highest |
1,884Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436 42% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #201 of 282 in MA | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Dracut | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.