Compare towns
Dracut vs North Reading 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).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | North Reading | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
15,765 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
43±2.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| North Reading and Pelham 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% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest 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±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| North Reading 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±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| North Reading and Dracut 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. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Pelham 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading and Pelham 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | North Reading | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | North Reading High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.