Compare towns
New Salem vs Woonsocket 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
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | New Salem | Woonsocket | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,054Lowest |
43,521Highest |
1,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±2.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
45±8.4 16% above U.S. |
| New Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pelham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,688±$19k about the U.S. average |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,000±$40k 8% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$447,600±$33kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$88 15% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,205±$560Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Pelham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,509 45% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,472Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and New Salem 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 38 in RI | — |
| School district | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Pelham |
| High school in town | — | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2 |
— |
| 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.