Compare towns
Salem vs Everett 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 affordable homes ($473k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Everett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
50,045Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett 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 37% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| 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±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Everett | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Everett High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.