Compare towns
Dracut vs Pelham vs Unity vs Lowell
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%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Unity | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
14,449 |
1,375Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Pelham and Dracut 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. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% 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% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | — | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Pelham School District | Unity School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Pelham High School | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.