Compare towns
Pelham vs Worcester vs Dracut vs Hooksett
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%).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Dracut has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
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.
| Measure | Pelham | Worcester | Dracut | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
207,055Highest |
32,574 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Pelham 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% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hooksett 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. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #266 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dracut | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | South High Community | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.9 |
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| 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.