What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	14,449Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH	$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH
	Pelham and Durham 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	$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH
	Pelham and Durham 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	$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH
	Durham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Lowest 30% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Pelham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 10% above NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Pelham and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Pelham School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Pelham High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.