Compare towns
Pelham vs Saugus vs Litchfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Saugus has the most renters (28.5% rent).
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 | Saugus | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
28,773Highest |
8,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Litchfield 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Litchfield 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% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Saugus 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. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| 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±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$485,000±$18kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$2,138±$406 51% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Litchfield 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. |
$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$8,273 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Litchfield 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Saugus | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Saugus High | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
15.5Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.