Compare towns
Pelham vs Stratham 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 youngest population (median age 41.5).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
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 | Stratham | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,754Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Pelham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
69.9%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% |
3.9%±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±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Stratham 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±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Stratham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.