Compare towns
Windham vs Saugus vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Saugus has the most renters (28.5% rent).
Pelham has the most affordable 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 | Windham | Saugus | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
28,773Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201 59% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #194 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Saugus | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Saugus High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
15.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.