Compare towns
Danby vs Dracut 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
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dracut has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Danby | Dracut | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
32,574Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 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 | $77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% 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 | $272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 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 | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #201 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Dracut | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.