The Town FilesPelham, New Hampshire
Town in Hillsborough County · population 14,222 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $552,600
- Household income
- $135,956
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 67 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 41.5
Pelham is a town of 14,222 people in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $552,600, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for families than 81% of New Hampshire towns, more vibrant than 78% of New Hampshire towns, more upscale than 75% of New Hampshire towns.
How Pelham ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Pelham is worth $552,600, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $135,956, which is more affordable than 35% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,425 a month. 86.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pelham | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $552,600 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,425 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $135,956 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.7% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Pelham
| People | Pelham | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.0% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 22.8% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 29.5 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 92.5% |
Weather in Pelham
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 46.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 66.8 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelham since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 21, 1972 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 1984.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 31, 1973.
Severe weather in Hillsborough County since 1996
Hillsborough County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| March 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4209: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County had 201,342 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,660 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Pelham itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Pelham
3 public schools with 1,646 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelham Elementary School | PK-5 | 752 | 11.6 |
| Pelham High School | 9-12 | 556 | 10.9 |
| Pelham Memorial School | 6-8 | 338 | 9.7 |
Towns near Pelham
- Dracut, MA4.0 mi · 32,617 people · home $473,900
- Hudson, NH4.2 mi · 25,394 people · home $438,900
- Hudson, NH5.3 mi · 7,534 people · home $366,400
- Windham, NH5.8 mi · 15,817 people · home $723,300
- Tyngsborough, MA6.4 mi · 12,380 people · home $552,500
- Lowell, MA6.4 mi · 115,554 people · home $429,200
- Salem, NH7.1 mi · 30,089 people · home $473,300
- Nashua, NH7.9 mi · 91,322 people · home $403,900
Pelham questions
Is Pelham, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pelham scores better for retirees than 18% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 27%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Pelham?
The median owner-occupied home in Pelham is valued at $552,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $135,956, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,425 a month.
What is the weather like in Pelham?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.1 inches of precipitation a year and 66.8 inches of snow.
Does Pelham get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 21, 1972. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)