Compare towns
Pelham vs Methuen vs Dracut vs Hudson
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).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Methuen | Dracut | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
53,475Highest |
32,574 |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Methuen 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±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6k 54% 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. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Methuen 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. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% 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. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% 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% |
19.6%±3.6 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Methuen | Dracut | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Methuen High | Dracut Senior High | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.9 |
11.6 |
| 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.