Compare towns
Pelham vs Bow vs Salem vs Litchfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Bow | Salem | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
8,335Lowest |
30,964Highest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Salem 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 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Bow 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 37% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$162,036±$11k 64% above NH |
| Bow and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
$485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
| Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Bow School District | Salem School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Bow High School | Salem High School | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.2 |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.