Compare towns
Pelham vs Merrimac 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 people working from home (22.8%).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Merrimac | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
6,748Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest 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% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%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% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Pelham 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 |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Merrimac 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Pentucket | Dracut |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.