Compare towns

Pelham vs Richmond 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 highest household income ($136k).
Richmond has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

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.

MeasurePelhamRichmondDracut
People
Population
14,449
4,159Lowest
32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
43.7±5.6Highest
12% above U.S.
41.7±2
7% above U.S.
Richmond 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%
21.5%±5
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Richmond 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%
19.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Richmond 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.1%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%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
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.
$108,235±$24kLowest
34% above U.S.
$114,036±$10k
41% 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.
$432,200±$39kLowest
30% above U.S.
$473,900±$17k
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
—
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$6,868
120% above U.S.
$5,375Lowest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4
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%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham and Richmond 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 #5 of 70 in VT #201 of 282 in MA
School district Pelham School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 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.