Compare towns
Pelham vs Epping vs Windham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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 | Pelham | Epping | Windham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,430Lowest |
16,038 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Epping School District | Windham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Epping High School | Windham High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.