Compare towns
Pelham vs Strafford vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Strafford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
4,306 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Strafford 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 |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
| Pelham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Strafford 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 |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Pelham 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
29 minLowest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Pelham School District | Strafford School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.