Compare towns
Pelham vs Strafford 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 most people working from home (22.8%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Dracut has the most renters (20.2% rent).
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 | Strafford | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
4,306Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 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% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2%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% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Strafford 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. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Strafford 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. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Strafford 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. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Pelham 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Strafford School District | 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.