What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mansfield has the most renters (26.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pelham	Mansfield
People
Population	14,449Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S.	41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Pelham and Mansfield 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%	22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mansfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pelham and Mansfield 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%	51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham and Mansfield 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.	$125,273±$15kLowest 55% above U.S.
	Pelham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S.	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$7,226Lowest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pelham and Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Pelham School District	Mansfield
High school in town	Pelham High School	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.