What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k 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.

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

Measure	Pelham	Rollinsford
People
Population	14,449Highest	2,626Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH	38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH
	Pelham and Rollinsford 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%	17.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Pelham and Rollinsford 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%	19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Rollinsford 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH	$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH	$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH	$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH
	Rollinsford 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	$6,851Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Pelham and Rollinsford 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%	4.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 10% above NH	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Rollinsford 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	#94 of 120 in NH
School district	Pelham School District	Rollinsford School District
High school in town	Pelham High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.