Compare towns
Pelham vs North Hampton 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%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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 | North Hampton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
4,543Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Salem 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 |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| North Hampton 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±$27k 37% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | North Hampton 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.