Compare towns

Litchfield vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).

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.

MeasureLitchfieldWorcesterPelham
People
Population
8,499Lowest
207,055Highest
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±1.7Highest
11% above U.S.
33.9±0.5Lowest
13% below 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%
19.6%±0.8Lowest
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%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13.3%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pelham and Litchfield 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%
35.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$162,036±$11kHighest
101% above U.S.
$70,102±$2kLowest
13% below 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.
$374,400±$7kLowest
13% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,138±$406Highest
51% above U.S.
$1,487±$38
5% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,273
165% above U.S.
$4,733Lowest
52% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
81.5%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±2.9Lowest
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%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
10% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±1Lowest
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 #266 of 282 in MA #48 of 120 in NH
School district Litchfield School District Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Pelham School District
High school in town Campbell High School South High Community Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4
14.6Highest
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.