Compare towns

Pelham vs Salisbury vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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.

MeasurePelhamSalisburyWindham
People
Population
14,449
1,609Lowest
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±2.7
4% below NH
51.5±4.5Highest
19% above NH
41.1±2.9Lowest
5% below NH
Kids under 18
22%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
20.1%±9.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
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%
24.9%±4Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
NH: 40.6%
37.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
62.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.3Highest
NH: 6%
2%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8
NH: 6%
Pelham and Windham 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
$111,591±$17kLowest
13% above NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$552,600±$27k
37% above NH
$363,400±$47kLowest
10% below NH
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,425±$88Lowest
4% below NH
$1,917±$632
29% above NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634
30% above NH
$5,859Lowest
12% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.3%±12.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
Pelham and Windham 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%
7.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
96.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
1982Lowest
3 yrs newer than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
10% above NH
32 minHighest
20% above NH
31 min
15% above NH
Work from home
22.8%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
23.3%±10.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Salisbury 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 — #13 of 120 in NH
School district Pelham School District Merrimack Valley School District Windham School District
High school in town Pelham High School None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.