Compare towns
Pelham vs Needham 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 homeowners (86.7%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
32,459Highest |
30,964 |
| 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±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Needham | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Needham High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.