Compare towns
Pelham vs Sandgate vs Salem
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 kids (22% under 18).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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 | Sandgate | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
435Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 68% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 177% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Pelham 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 History | 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.