What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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	Springfield
People
Population	14,449Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S.	33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Springfield 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±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.	$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.	$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average	$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 120 in NH	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Pelham School District	Springfield
High school in town	Pelham High School	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.