Compare towns

Pelham vs Danvers 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 most people working from home (22.8%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
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.

MeasurePelhamDanversDracut
People
Population
14,449Lowest
28,098
32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
45.3±3Highest
16% above U.S.
41.7±2
7% above U.S.
Danvers and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2Lowest
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%
22.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%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%
4%±1.3Lowest
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.
$125,395±$10k
55% above U.S.
$114,036±$10kLowest
41% above U.S.
Pelham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$552,600±$27k
66% above U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$473,900±$17kLowest
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,839±$130
30% above U.S.
Danvers and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$6,654
113% above U.S.
$5,375Lowest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham and Danvers 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 #91 of 282 in MA #201 of 282 in MA
School district Pelham School District Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Dracut
High school in town Pelham High School Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
12.8
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.