Compare towns
Pelham vs Hudson vs Barrington 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).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Hudson | Barrington | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
25,557 |
9,489Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington 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% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson 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% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson 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±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hudson 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. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Barrington 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. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Barrington 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Hudson School District | Barrington School District | Dracut |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Alvirne High School | None in town | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.6 |
— | 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.