Pelham, AL vs Salem, MA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Pelham
73.9
#665 nationally
Salem
68.6
#1307 nationally
Salem leads in walk score (70 vs 13). Pelham leads in cost of living index (101 vs 135). Pelham leads in median household income ($94,108 vs $79,196).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Pelham, AL | Salem, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.9 (#665) | 68.6 (#1307) |
| Population | 25,121 | 44,744 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $328,477 | $614,321 |
| Median Household Income | $94,108 | $79,196 |
| Average Commute | 27.4 min | 30.6 min |
| Walk Score | 13 | 70 |
| Crime Level | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 135 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+40.8 | D+20.3 |
C
73.9 Score
Pelham, AL
Small Alabama city with local appeal
Median Home
$328,477
Population
25,121
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
13
Southeast
View Pelham, AL →
D+
68.6 Score
Salem, MA
Small Massachusetts city with local appeal
Median Home
$614,321
Population
44,744
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
70
Northeast
View Salem, MA →