Compare towns
Pelham vs Newton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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.
| Measure | Pelham | Newton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
4,836Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Newton 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Newton 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 37% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Newton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$459,500±$18kLowest 14% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Newton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.