Compare towns
Waterville vs Pelham vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Waterville | Pelham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
14,449Highest |
790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Pelham School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.