Compare towns
Pelham vs Wilder 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 the most people working from home (22.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Wilder | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
3,087Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Pelham 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.