Compare towns
Pelham vs Strafford vs Litchfield
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%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
1,372Lowest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Pelham 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. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$485,000±$18k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$8,273 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Litchfield 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 | — | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Strafford School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.