Compare towns
Dracut vs Lowell vs Suffield 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
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Lowell | Suffield | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
118,368Highest |
15,702 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Dracut 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% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Suffield 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Suffield 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. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Suffield 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Lowell | Suffield School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Lowell High | Suffield High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
14.8Highest |
10.9 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.