Compare towns
Pelham vs Salem vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
30,964 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Salem School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Salem High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.