Compare towns
Pelham vs Methuen vs Dracut vs Litchfield
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 expensive homes ($553k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
53,475Highest |
32,574 |
8,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%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. |
43.1±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Dracut 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% |
22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Litchfield 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% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
46.7%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%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest 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±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Pelham 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±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$485,000±$18k 46% 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. |
$2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Litchfield 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. |
$8,273 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield and Pelham 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1%Lowest 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% |
86.7%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. |
29 min 10% 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% |
21%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Methuen | Dracut | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Methuen High | Dracut Senior High | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.9 |
11.4 |
| 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.