Compare towns
Dracut vs Epping vs Needham 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
Dracut has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Needham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
7,430Lowest |
32,459 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest 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. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Epping and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% 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% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% 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% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% 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. |
1965Lowest 15 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%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Epping 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Epping School District | Needham | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Epping High School | Needham High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.9 |
10.4 |
| 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.