Compare towns
Henniker 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
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Henniker | Pelham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
14,449 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 4% below 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 | $356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #56 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Pelham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
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.