Compare towns
Dracut vs Hampton 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 affordable homes ($474k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Hampton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
16,426 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest 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 | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% 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±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest 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 | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Winnacunnet High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.