Compare towns
Pelham vs Rowley vs New Salem
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%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Rowley | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335 |
1,708Highest |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
| New Salem and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Rowley 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% |
23.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5 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% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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 |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA |
| Pelham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$614,800±$39kHighest 9% above MA |
$359,000±$40kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA |
$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA |
| Rowley 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 |
$6,865 15% above MA |
$4,509Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Rowley 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% |
6.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
25 minHighest 15% below MA |
23 min 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pelham | — | — |
| High school 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.