Compare towns

Dover 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

Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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.

MeasureDoverDracutPelham
People
Population
33,364Highest
32,574
14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
41.7±2Highest
7% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Dracut and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8Lowest
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+
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dracut and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above 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
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$473,900±$17k
42% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$5,375Lowest
72% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3Lowest
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
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham and Dover 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 120 in NH #201 of 282 in MA #48 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Dracut Pelham School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School Dracut Senior High Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
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.