Compare towns
Pelham vs Topsfield vs Windham
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 the most affordable homes ($553k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Topsfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
6,564Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Windham 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% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Topsfield | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.