Compare towns
Jackson vs Meredith vs Windham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Salem has the most renters (22.9% rent).
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 | Jackson | Meredith | Windham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,695 |
1,467Lowest |
16,038Highest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6 40% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$948±$40 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165 34% above U.S. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Windham 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 | — | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | Windham School District | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | Windham High School | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
8.5Lowest |
| 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.