Compare towns

Dracut vs Goffstown 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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.

MeasureDracutGoffstownPelham
People
Population
32,574Highest
18,513
14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.7±2Highest
7% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% 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
21.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5Lowest
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%
19%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Goffstown 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%
42.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,036±$10k
41% above U.S.
$113,958±$12kLowest
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
$473,900±$17k
42% above U.S.
$377,400±$20kLowest
13% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,425±$88
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,375Lowest
72% above U.S.
$6,941
123% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.6%±7.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Goffstown 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
15% 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%
13.8%±2.2
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 #35 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH
School district Dracut Goffstown School District Pelham School District
High school in town Dracut Senior High Goffstown High School Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
12.6
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.