Compare towns
Pelham vs Everett vs Salem
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 people working from home (22.8%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Everett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
50,045Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Pelham 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% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett 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. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Salem 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. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Everett | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Everett High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.