Compare towns
Salem vs Ossipee 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 most renters (24.4% rent).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Ossipee | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
4,521Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| 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±$9k 12% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% 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 |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Salem and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82% 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 minLowest 9% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 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.