Compare towns
Dracut vs Pelham vs Worcester
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 renters (20.2% rent).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Pelham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
14,449 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Dracut 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Pelham 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — |
| School district | Dracut | Pelham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.