Compare towns
Pelham vs Strafford vs Thetford
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 oldest population (median age 51.4).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Thetford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Strafford 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±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Thetford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Pelham School District | Strafford School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.