Compare towns
Pelham vs Springfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Springfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
9,084Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.3%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%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% 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. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$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. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #64 of 70 in VT | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Springfield High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.