Compare towns
Dracut vs Hooksett vs Pelham vs Lowell
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%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Pelham | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
15,057 |
14,449Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Hooksett 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Hooksett 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. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hooksett 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Pelham High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.