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Community Profiles

Pelham, NH


pelham New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Pelham Planning Department
Jennifer Beauregard, Planning Director
6 Village Green
Pelham, NH 03076
Telephone (603) 635-8233
Fax (603) 635-8274
E-mail selectmen@pelhamweb.com
Web Site www.pelhamweb.com

Municipal Office Hours Town Administrator: Monday to Friday, 8-4; Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 8-4, Tuesday, 10-6

County Hillsborough
Labor Market Area Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH NECTA Division
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission Nashua Regional
Regional Development Regional Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress District District 2
Executive Council District District 3
State Senate District District 22
State Representative Hillsborough County District 1

Incorporated: 1746
Origin: This territory was settled in 1722, when it was a part of Old Dunstable, which included all or part of what is now 12 towns in two states. When the New Hampshire-Massachusetts boundary line was set in 1741, Old Dunstable was split in half, with the northern half retaining the name Dunstable. Pelham was incorporated in 1746 from parts of Dunstable and Dracut, Massachusetts. The town takes its name from Henry Pelham, Prime Minister of England, a relation of Governor Benning Wentworth, and younger brother of Thomas Pelham-Holles.
Villages and Place Names: unknown
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 791 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Pelham totaled 8,846 over 50 years, from 5,408 in 1970 to 14,254 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Pelham was 14,473 residents, which ranked 23rd among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 550.7 persons per square mile of land area. Pelham contains 26.3 square miles of land area and 0.5 square miles of inland water area.

Municipal Services
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2022 $21,636,276
Budget: School Appropriations, 2022-2023 $41,067,269
Zoning Ordinance 1956/22
Master Plan 2002
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Consultant
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Budget; Cemetery; Library; Planning; Trustee of the Trust Funds
Appointed:Agricultural; Capital Improvement; Conservation; Forestry; Zoning; Water
Public Library Pelham Public

Emergency Services
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Emergency Medical Service Full-time
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Saints Campus - Lowell General Hospital, Lowell MA 7 miles 157
Lowell General, Lowell MA 7 miles 390
Southern NH Medical Center, Nashua 10 miles 163

Utilities
Electric Supplier Liberty Utilities; Eversource Energy
Natural Gas Supplier Liberty Utilities
Water Supplier Pennichuck East Utilities/Williamsburg
Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupNone
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramNo
Recycling ProgramMandatory
Telephone Company Consolidated Communications
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $17.42
2022 Equalization Ratio 87.6
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $15.19
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings92.1%
Commercial Land and Buildings5.1%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other2.8%

(ACS 2017-2021) Housing
Total Housing Units 5,165
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 4,682
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 163
Five or More Units in Structure 274
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 46
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial)
Total Population Community County
2022 14,473 426,594
2020 14,222 422,937
2010 12,897 400,721
2000 11,006 382,384
1990 9,428 336,549
1980 8,090 276,608
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021
Population by Gender
Male:   6,872 Female:   7,227
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 571
Age 5 to 19 3,062
Age 20 to 34 2,143
Age 35 to 54 4,145
Age 55 to 64 2,166
Age 65 and over 2,012
Median Age 43.5 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over 9,750
High school graduate or higher 95.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher 36.9%

(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $
Per capita income $47,566
Median family income $127,472
Median household income $111,333
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $75,139
Female $58,216
Individuals below the poverty level 2.2%

(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force
Annual Average 2012 2022
Civilian Labor Force 7,253 8,348
Employed 6,756 8,063
Unemployed 497 285
Unemployment Rate 6.9% 3.4%

(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages
Annual Average Covered Employment 2012 2022
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 595 888
Average Weekly Wage $1,038 $2,835
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 1,237 1,583
Average Weekly Wage $692 $1,068
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 1,832 2,471
Average Weekly Wage $804 $1,703
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 468 474
Average Weekly Wage $812 $1,002
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 2,300 2,945
Average Weekly Wage $806 $1,590

If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.


(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care
Schools students attend: Pelham operates grades K-12 SAU 28
Career Technology Center(s): Pinkerton Academy Center for CTE
Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1 1 1 1
Grade Levels P K 1-5 6-8 9-12 9-12
Total Enrollment 756 355 574 158
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 6 Total Capacity: 361
Nearest Community/Technical College: Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Rivier

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
Wakefield Engineering Aluminum extrusion 300 1997
Pelham School District Education 425
Hannaford Brothers Supermarket 85 1996
Quality Assured Cable Cabling 70 1997
Chunky's Cinema Pub Cinema, restaurant 50 1997
Yarde Metals Metal stock wholesaler 25 2000
JT Manufacturing Fabrication 30 2008
Town of Pelham Government 125 1746

Employer Information Supplied by Municipality


(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation
Road Access US Routes
State Routes 38, 111A, 128
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exits 1 - 2
Distance 6 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Boire Field, NashuaRunway6,000 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 25 miles
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 27 miles
Portland, ME 97 miles
Boston, MA 34 miles
New York City, NY 229 miles
Montreal, Quebec 281 miles

(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work
Workers 16 years and over 7,868
Drove alone, car/truck/van 82.0%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 2.7%
Public transportation 0.6%
Walked 0.8%
Other Means 0.4%
Worked at home 13.4%
Mean Travel Time to Work 33.5 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2017-2021)
Working in community of residence 24.5%
Commuting to another NH community 27.3%
Commuting out-of-state 48.2%
Recreation, Attractions, and Events
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
Tourist Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
X Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): McIntyre
   
Other:

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 6/2/23

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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