Compare towns
Pelham vs Epping 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 highest household income ($136k).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Epping | Salem | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,430Lowest |
30,964 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Methuen 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% 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% |
5.1%±3.3 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±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Methuen 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Pelham 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 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 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Epping School District | Salem School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Epping High School | Salem High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.3Lowest |
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.