Compare towns
Pelham vs Appleton vs Litchfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Appleton | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
1,360Lowest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.1±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$485,000±$18k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$8,273 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
81.5%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Litchfield 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | — | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Appleton Public Schools | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.