Compare towns
Pelham vs Rye vs Litchfield
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Rye | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
5,611Lowest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kLowest 37% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
| Litchfield and Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$485,000±$18kLowest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Rye 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Rye School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.