Compare towns
Pelham vs Methuen vs Dracut vs Barrington
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%).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Dracut has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Methuen | Dracut | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
53,475Highest |
32,574 |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest 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% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Methuen 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% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14kLowest 37% 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. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% 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. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Barrington 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Methuen | Dracut | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Methuen High | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.9 |
— |
| 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.