Compare towns
Pelham vs Salem vs Springfield
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%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
30,964Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
| Springfield 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%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Springfield 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% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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±$9k 12% above NH |
$100,893±$19kLowest about the NH 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 37% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% 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 |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Springfield 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 | — |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Salem High School | — |
| 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.