What stands out worked out from the figures below

Taunton has the most renters (37.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Taunton	Pelham
People
Population	60,433Highest	14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average	41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S.
	Pelham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pelham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pelham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,283±$7kLowest about the U.S. average	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$9kLowest 27% above U.S.	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$86Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average
	Pelham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,344Lowest 39% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#253 of 282 in MA	#48 of 120 in NH
School district	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton	Pelham School District
High school in town	Taunton High	Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.6Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.