Compare towns
Pelham vs Salem vs Dunbarton
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%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Salem | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
30,964Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Dunbarton 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% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest 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±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Pelham and Dunbarton 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 |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below 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 |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Dunbarton 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% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Salem School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.2Highest |
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| 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.