Compare towns
Pelham vs Stratham vs Salem
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Stratham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,754Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| 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±$19k 37% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Stratham 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±$27k 37% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.