Compare towns
Bow vs Ogunquit 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Bow | Ogunquit | Salem | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
1,379Lowest |
30,964Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
— | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Salem School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Salem High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.