Compare towns
Salem vs Lawrence 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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Lawrence | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
88,736Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Pelham 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Lawrence 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. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below 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±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lawrence and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Lawrence | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Lawrence High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
13.6Highest |
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.