Compare towns
Andover vs Salem vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Andover | Salem | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
2,611Highest |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Andover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.