The Town FilesPelham, New York
Town in Westchester County · population 13,078 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $974,300
- Household income
- $210,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 40.4
Pelham is a town of 13,078 people in Westchester County, New York. The median home is worth $974,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 98% of New York towns, more vibrant than 98% of New York towns, more upscale than 97% of New York towns.
How Pelham ranks
Percentile among New York 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 York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Pelham is worth $974,300, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $210,813, which is more affordable than 16% of New York towns. Median rent is $2,308 a month. 78.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pelham | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $974,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $2,308 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $210,813 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Pelham
| People | Pelham | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 30.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.4% | — |
| Work from home | 24.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 38.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Pelham
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 27.3°F. About 49.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 67 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelham since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 15, 1970 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 2, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Westchester County since 1996
Westchester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2024 | Flood | DR-4755: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4615: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3572: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| October 2, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4567: Tropical Storm Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Westchester County
Westchester County had 429,582 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $94,317 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Pelham itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Pelham
5 public schools with 2,463 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PELHAM MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 860 | 11.9 |
| PELHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 692 | 11.5 |
| PROSPECT HILL SCHOOL | K-8 | 336 | 15.3 |
| COLONIAL SCHOOL | K-5 | 288 | 13.7 |
| SIWANOY SCHOOL | K-5 | 287 | 13.7 |
Towns near Pelham
- Pelham Manor, NY0.5 mi · 5,752 people · home $1,093,300
- Pelham, NY0.7 mi · 7,326 people · home $915,800
- Mount Vernon, NY1.5 mi · 73,893 people · home $484,000
- New Rochelle, NY2.1 mi · 79,726 people · home $702,500
- Bronxville, NY2.9 mi · 6,656 people · home $1,095,100
- Larchmont, NY3.4 mi · 6,630 people · home $1,635,500
- Mamaroneck, NY3.6 mi · 31,758 people · home $1,076,700
- Eastchester, NY3.6 mi · 34,641 people · home $806,300
Pelham questions
Is Pelham, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pelham scores better for retirees than 10% of New York towns and quieter than 2%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Pelham?
The median owner-occupied home in Pelham is valued at $974,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $210,813, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $2,308 a month.
What is the weather like in Pelham?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 27.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 32.7 inches of snow.
Does Pelham get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 15, 1970. The typical New York 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)