Compare towns
Dracut vs Ripton vs Andover 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 renters (20.2% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Ripton | Andover | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574 |
508Lowest |
36,652Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Andover 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Andover 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
— | $2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375 72% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | — | #68 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.