What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).

Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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	Topsham
People
Population	14,449Highest	9,706Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.
	Topsham and Pelham 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%	19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pelham and Topsham 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%	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham and Topsham 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.	$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.	$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average	$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Pelham and Topsham 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.	$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pelham and Topsham 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	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	Pelham School District	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Pelham High School	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.