Compare towns
Salem vs Dover 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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Dover | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
33,364Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Dover 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 NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Pelham 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% 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 |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Dover School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Dover Senior High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.