Compare towns

Pelham vs Cornwall 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 highest household income ($136k).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Dracut has the most renters (20.2% rent).

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.

MeasurePelhamCornwallDracut
People
Population
14,449
1,208Lowest
32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
50.4±4.6Highest
30% above U.S.
41.7±2
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4
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+
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.7%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornwall 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%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3
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
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
$114,583±$32k
42% above U.S.
$114,036±$10kLowest
41% above U.S.
Pelham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
$458,000±$49kLowest
38% above U.S.
$473,900±$17k
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,425±$88
about the U.S. average
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$6,726
116% above U.S.
$5,375Lowest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±65.5
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Cornwall 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%
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Cornwall 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 #48 of 120 in NH — #201 of 282 in MA
School district Pelham School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Dracut
High school in town Pelham High School None in town Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
12.9Highest
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.