What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pelham	Thompson
People
Population	14,449Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Pelham and Thompson 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.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Thompson 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 120 in NH	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Pelham School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Pelham High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.