Compare towns
Pelham vs Bath vs Salem
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%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k 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.
| Measure | Pelham | Bath | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
8,815Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Bath and Salem 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% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Bath 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. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Salem 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. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Bath 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Bath 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Morse High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.8Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.