Compare towns
Pelham vs New Salem vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Williamsburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Pelham | New Salem | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335 |
1,054Lowest |
2,694Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
50±2.4 25% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 | $113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$359,000±$40kLowest 36% below MA |
$403,100±$37k 28% below MA |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$4,509Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
9.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
23 min 20% below MA |
25 minHighest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Pelham | — | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.