Compare towns
Pelham vs Epping vs Bow 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 expensive homes ($553k median).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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.
| Measure | Pelham | Epping | Bow | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,430Lowest |
8,335 |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Epping and Dracut 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Pelham 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%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% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Bow 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Pelham 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Epping School District | Bow School District | Dracut |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Epping High School | Bow High School | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.3Lowest |
12.8 |
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.