Compare towns
Pelham vs Wolfeboro vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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.
| Measure | Pelham | Wolfeboro | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
6,571Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Salem 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 37% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| 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 37% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Pelham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| 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 30% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.