Compare towns
Dracut vs Epping vs Methuen 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
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Dracut | Epping | Methuen | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
7,430Lowest |
53,475Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Epping and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 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+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% 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 | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Epping School District | Methuen | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Epping High School | Methuen High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
9.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.