Compare towns
Pelham vs Salem vs Windham vs Methuen
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).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Windham | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
30,964 |
16,038 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Pelham 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 68% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Salem School District | Windham School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Salem High School | Windham High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
12.8 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.