Compare towns
Pelham vs Stowe 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 the highest household income ($136k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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.
| Measure | Pelham | Stowe | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
5,285Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Salem 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Pelham 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above 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±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Stowe 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. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Stowe Town School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Stowe High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.