Compare towns
Dracut vs Mapleton vs Pelham vs Billerica
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Billerica has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
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 | Mapleton | Pelham | Billerica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
1,884Lowest |
14,449 |
42,003Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.3±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Billerica and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Pelham 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Billerica 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$148,200±$8kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Billerica and Pelham 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$612,000±$13kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$2,282±$173Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,358 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.3%±8.9 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.5%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Billerica 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #146 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Pelham School District | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Pelham High School | Billerica Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| 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.