Compare towns
Sandown vs Jaffrey 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
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Sandown | Jaffrey | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,628 |
5,448Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
42.9±3.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Jaffrey and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Jaffrey and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% NH: 40.6% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Sandown and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,196Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
81.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Pelham 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 21.3Highest |
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.