Compare towns
Salem vs Ashby vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Salem | Ashby | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
3,211Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Ashby 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | North Middlesex | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.