Compare towns
Pelham vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Springfield | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335 |
154,749Highest |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
| New Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Pelham 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$79,688±$19k 23% below MA |
| 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 | $447,600±$33kHighest 20% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$359,000±$40k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Highest 32% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,194±$88 32% below MA |
| Pelham and New Salem 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,509 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 10.3% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
23 minHighest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pelham | Springfield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.