Compare towns
Pelham vs Windham vs Middlesex vs Methuen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Windham | Middlesex | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
16,038 |
1,943Lowest |
53,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Pelham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Windham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Methuen |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Windham High School | None in town | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.