Compare towns
Salem vs Pelham vs Goffstown
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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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 | Pelham | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
14,449Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| 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%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Pelham and Goffstown 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 |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Salem and Pelham 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Pelham School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Pelham High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.