Compare towns
Pelham vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Webster | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
17,748 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% 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. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 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 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #271 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Webster | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Bartlett High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.