Compare towns
Pelham vs Upton vs Dracut vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% 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 | Upton | Dracut | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
8,189Lowest |
32,574 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Upton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Methuen 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. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dracut | Methuen |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Blackstone Valley | Dracut Senior High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.