What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

Groton has the highest household income ($193k).

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	Groton
People
Population	14,449Highest	11,390Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S.	41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Pelham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Groton 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%	17.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Groton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S.	$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S.	$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S.
	Groton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Groton 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%	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Groton 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	#39 of 282 in MA
School district	Pelham School District	Groton-Dunstable
High school in town	Pelham High School	Groton Dunstable Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	13.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.