Compare towns
Salem vs Hingham 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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Hingham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
24,283 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hingham 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Pelham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Hingham | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Hingham High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.9Highest |
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.