Compare towns
Hudson vs Dracut 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
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Hudson | Dracut | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557 |
32,574Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest 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+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 113% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 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 | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Dracut | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Dracut Senior High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.9Highest |
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.