Pelham New Hampshire Community Profile
Pelham, NH
Community Contact Pelham Planning Department
William D'Andrea, Planning Director
6 Village Green
Pelham, NH 03076

Telephone (603) 635-7811
Fax (603) 635-6954
E-mail planning@pelhamweb.com
Web Site www.pelham-nh.com

Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4 pm; Town Clerk: also Tuesday until 7 pm

County Hillsborough
Labor Market Area Lowell MA-NH Micro-NECTA, NH Portion
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission Nashua Regional
Regional Development Gateway Industrial Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress
District 2
Executive Council
District 4
State Senate
District 22
State Representative
Hillsborough County District 27
Incorporated: 1746

Origin: Chartered in 1746, this town takes its name from Henry Pelham, Prime Minister of England, a relation of Governor Benning Wentworth, and younger brother of Thomas Pelham Holles. The town was originally a part of Old Dunstable, which was split when the New Hampshire-Massachusetts boundary line was changed in 1741.

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 791 residents in 1790

Population Trends: Pelham's population increased very rapidly over the last five decades, growing more than eight times larger. Decennial growth rates ranged from a 16 percent increase between both 1980-1990 and 1990-2000 to a 108 percent increase between 1960-1970. Pelham's population grew by a total of 9,597 residents, going from 1,317 in 1950 to 10,914 residents in 2000. The 2004 Census estimate for Pelham was 12,310 residents, which ranked 24th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2004: 468.4 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.

Villages and Place Names: North Pelham

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2003 $4,104,270
Budget: School Appropriations not available
Zoning Ordinance 1955/05
Master Plan 2002
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board/Consultant

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
Board of Selectmen
Appointed:
Planning Board; Conservation Commission; Library Trustees; Cemetery Trustees; Zoning Board of Adjustment

Public Library Pelham Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 9/10
Emergency Medical Service Municipal

Nearest Hospital(s):
Southern NH Regional or St. Joseph, Nashua
Distance: 9 miles Staffed Beds: 180; 144

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier Granite State; PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier Tennessee Gas
Water Supplier PEU/Williamsburg

Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
None
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
No
Recycling Program
Mandatory

Telephone Company Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Cable Internet Service:  
Business
unknown
Residential
unknown

PROPERTY TAXES
2004 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $29.85
2004 Equalization Ratio 49.3
2004 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $14.72

2004 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings
91.2%
Commercial Land and Buildings
6.5%
Other Property including Utilities
2.3%

HOUSING
2003 Total Housing Units 4,251
   
2003 Single-Family Units 3,704
Building Permits Issued
126
2003 Multi-Family Units 524
Building Permits Issued
0
2003 Manufactured Housing Units 23
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DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2004 12,310 398,574
2000 11,006 382,384
1990 9,428 336,549
1980 8,090 276,608
1970 5,408 223,941

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
5,423
Female
5,491

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
804
Age 5 to 19
2,577
Age 20 to 34
1,824
Age 35 to 54
3,888
Age 55 to 64
967
Age 65 and over
854
Median Age
36 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
87.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher
24.7%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income $25,158
Median 4-person family income $73,365
Median household income $68,608

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
$47,685
Female
$33,375

Families below the poverty level 1.6%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 1994 2004
Civilian Labor Force
5,690 6,812
Employed
5,237 6,428
Unemployed
453 384
Unemployment Rate
8.0% 5.6%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1994 2004
Goods Producing Industries  
Average Employment
184 544
Average Weekly Wage
$475 $813
   
Service Providing Industries  
Average Employment
1,007 1,184
Average Weekly Wage
$344 $574
   
Total Private Industry  
Average Employment
1,191 1,728
Average Weekly Wage
$364 $649
   
Government (Federal, State, and Local)  
Average Employment
309 435
Average Weekly Wage
$490 $643
   
Total, Private plus Government  
Average Employment
1,500 2,162
Average Weekly Wage
$390 $648
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Pelham operates grades 1-12 District: SAU 28
Career Technology Center(s): Pinkerton Academy, Derry; Salem High School Vocational Center Region: 17

Educational Facilities
Elementary
Middle/Junior High
High School
Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
1
1
1
1
Grade Levels
R 1-5
5-8
9-12
K-8
Total Enrollment
856
552
639
n/a

NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2004: Total Facilities: 15 Total Capacity: 698
Nearest Community/Technical College: Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Daniel Webster; Rivier

LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE
EMPLOYEES
ESTABLISHED
National Northeast Aluminum extrusion 300 1997
Pelham School District Education 258
Victory Supermarket Supermarket 85 1996
Quality Assured Cable Cabling 70 1997
Chunky's Cinema Cinema 50 1997

TRANSPORTATION
Road Access Federal Routes
  State Routes 38, 128, 111A
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 1
         Distance 7 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
Nearest Airport Nashua
Runway
    5,501 feet
Lighted?
Yes
Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport
Manchester
Distance
31 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
25 miles
Portland, ME
97 miles
Boston, MA
33 miles
New York City, NY
225 miles
Montreal, Quebec
281 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
86.7%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
8.3%
Public transportation
1.0%
Walked
0.7%
Other Means
1.0%
Worked at home
2.3%
Mean Travel Time to Work 27.2 minutes

Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence
14%
Commuting to another NH community
31%
Commuting out-of-state
55%
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RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X
Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X
Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
X
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X
Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
Museums
X
Cinemas
Performing Arts Facilities
Tourists 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
Cross Country Skiing
Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): McIntyre
   
Other:

Copyright 2005 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/24/05

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.