Compare towns
Pelham vs Sandown vs Litchfield
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 expensive homes ($553k median).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Sandown | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
6,628Lowest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
43.1±1.7Highest about the NH average |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Pelham and Litchfield 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% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Sandown 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 |
$135,040±$25kLowest 36% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
| Litchfield 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±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$483,400±$44kLowest 20% above NH |
$485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,893±$721 27% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Sandown 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 |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,273Lowest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.