Compare towns
Epping vs Pelham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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 | Epping | Pelham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
14,449 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Pelham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Pelham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Pelham High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.4 |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.