Compare towns
Salem vs Bartlett vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Bartlett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
3,281Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest 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 | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% 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 | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$371,400±$78kLowest 8% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Bartlett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
68.5%±37.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Bartlett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #74 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Bartlett School District | 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 |
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.