Compare towns
Litchfield vs Townsend vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Litchfield | Townsend | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,499Lowest |
9,100 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18k 46% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Litchfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273 165% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Litchfield School District | North Middlesex | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | North Middlesex Regional | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.