Compare towns
Pelham vs Stow 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 renters (20.9% rent).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Stow | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335 |
7,165Highest |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Stow 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±$24k 9% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$359,000±$40kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA |
| Stow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472 25% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,509Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Stow 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% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
23 min 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Pelham 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pelham | Nashoba | — |
| 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.