Compare towns
Pelham vs Rochester 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 the most people working from home (22.8%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Rochester | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
33,144Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Rochester 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% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Salem 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Rochester 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 37% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Pelham and Salem 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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Pelham 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 |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Rochester School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Spaulding High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.2Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.