Compare towns
Pelham vs Hampton Beach vs Hampton 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Hampton | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
2,605Lowest |
16,426 |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 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. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Dracut 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. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hampton 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. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dracut |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | — | Winnacunnet High School | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 10.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.