Compare towns
Pelham vs Amherst vs Newfields vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k 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 | Pelham | Amherst | Newfields | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
11,861 |
2,023Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 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 | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Newfields 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | — | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Newfields School District | Dracut |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.