Compare towns
Pelham vs Maynard 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).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Maynard | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
10,712Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2%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% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Maynard 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. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Maynard 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 |
$1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Maynard 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. |
$8,266 165% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75%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 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Maynard | Dracut |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Maynard High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.7Lowest |
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.