Compare towns
Dracut vs Upton 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).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Pelham has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Upton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
8,189Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Upton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #201 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Blackstone Valley | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.