Compare towns
Dracut vs Pelham vs Rye vs Windham
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Pelham | Rye | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
14,449 |
5,611Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Rye 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. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Pelham School District | Rye School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Pelham High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
| 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.