Compare towns

Pelham vs Newfields vs Dracut vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasurePelhamNewfieldsDracutWindham
People
Population
14,449
2,023Lowest
32,574Highest
16,038
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Highest
13% above U.S.
41.7±2
7% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
Newfields 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%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Dracut and Pelham 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%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$114,036±$10kLowest
41% above U.S.
$189,583±$19k
135% above U.S.
Newfields and Windham 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.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$473,900±$17kLowest
42% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Windham and Newfields 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
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$1,839±$130
30% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634
177% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,375Lowest
72% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
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%
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1991
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
15% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 — #201 of 282 in MA #13 of 120 in NH
School district Pelham School District Newfields School District Dracut Windham School District
High school in town Pelham High School None in town Dracut Senior High Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
12.9Highest
12.8
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.