Compare towns
South Hampton vs Pelham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | South Hampton | Pelham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
14,449 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| South Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 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 | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| South Hampton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| South Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and South Hampton 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Pelham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.