Compare towns

Pelham vs Maynard vs Dracut vs Hooksett

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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.

MeasurePelhamMaynardDracutHooksett
People
Population
14,449
10,712Lowest
32,574Highest
15,057
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%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
45.3±4.3Highest
16% above U.S.
41.7±2
7% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% 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%
17.4%±2.9
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%
17.3%±2.4
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%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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.
$117,962±$11k
46% 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±$17k
42% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% 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.
$1,661±$206
18% 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.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
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%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
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%
13.4%±3.1
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 #30 of 120 in NH
School district Pelham School District Maynard Dracut Hooksett School District
High school in town Pelham High School Maynard High Dracut Senior High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4
9.7Lowest
12.9Highest
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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.