Compare towns
Manchester vs Newton vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
Towns like ManchesterNashua
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Manchester | Newton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 115,643Highest |
4,836Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Newton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Pelham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Newton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Newton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±3.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Newton 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | 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.