Compare towns
Dracut vs Hooksett vs Randolph Town 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 oldest population (median age 41.7).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Randolph Town has the most renters (28.7% rent).
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.
| Measure | Dracut | Hooksett | Randolph Town | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
15,057 |
34,878Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.8Lowest 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph Town 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest 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% |
9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph Town 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. |
$109,573±$6kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$496,400±$21k 49% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,103±$98Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,644 81% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% 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% |
62.1%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Randolph Town 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.5 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #260 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Randolph | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Randolph High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 14.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.