What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pelham	Augusta
People
Population	14,449Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.	42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S.
	Augusta and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pelham and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.	$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 120 in NH	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	Pelham School District	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Pelham High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	17.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.