Compare towns
Pelham vs Bow vs Salem vs Methuen
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 the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% 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 | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
8,335Lowest |
30,964 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Pelham 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Pelham 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Pelham 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Methuen 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Bow School District | Salem School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Bow High School | Salem High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
11.2 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.