Compare towns
Pelham vs Strong vs Salem
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%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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 | Strong | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
1,249Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Strong and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Strong 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%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strong 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Salem 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. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Strong 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | 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 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.