Compare towns
Pelham vs Salem vs South Hampton
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 affordable homes ($473k median).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k 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.
| Measure | Pelham | Salem | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
30,964Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
| South Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Pelham 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%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest 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±$19k 37% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Pelham 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 |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and South Hampton 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Pelham School District | Salem School District | South Hampton 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 |
— |
| 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.