What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pelham	Somersworth
People
Population	14,449Highest	12,111Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH	38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH
	Pelham and Somersworth 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%	19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Pelham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Pelham and Somersworth 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%	31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6%
	Pelham and Somersworth 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	$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH	$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH	$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average
	Somersworth 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	$6,805Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2%	56.3%±14.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Pelham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	11.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 10% above NH	26 minLowest 3% below NH
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 120 in NH	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	Pelham School District	Somersworth School District
High school in town	Pelham High School	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.