Compare towns
Pelham vs Stratham vs Windham vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Windham | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,754Lowest |
16,038 |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Stratham and Pelham 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Methuen 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham 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. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham 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 |
$2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District | Methuen |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Windham High School | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.