Compare towns
Londonderry vs Salem vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Londonderry has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Londonderry | Salem | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,225Lowest |
30,964Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.4±1 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Salem and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Londonderry and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,571±$13k 21% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $469,500±$23kLowest 17% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,952±$135Highest 31% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,568 14% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.4%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Londonderry 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 | #37 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Salem School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.