Compare towns
Fall River 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
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Fall River | Salem | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
30,964 |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Salem and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 27% 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 | 52.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fall River and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Salem School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Salem High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.