Compare towns
Londonderry 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
Londonderry has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Londonderry | Pelham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,685 |
14,449Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±0.9 about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 16.4%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,556±$14k 34% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% 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 | $505,200±$20k 26% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$154Highest 21% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Londonderry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,069 21% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±7.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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 | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Londonderry School District | Pelham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Londonderry Senior High School | Pelham High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.