Compare towns
Salem vs Exeter 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 housing (typical home built 1977).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
16,151 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Salem 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Salem 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Exeter High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.