Compare towns
Pelham vs Chilmark vs Windham 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
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
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 | Chilmark | Windham | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
1,578Lowest |
16,038 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 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. |
$168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Windham and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,750±$2k 95% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Windham and Chilmark 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. |
$4,485Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Windham 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chilmark and Pelham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Up-Island Regional | Windham School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Windham High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.