Compare towns
Pelham vs Windham vs Newfields 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Windham | Newfields | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
16,038 |
2,023Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Newfields 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Pelham 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Pelham 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 |
$189,583±$19k 91% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Newfields and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Windham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Windham School District | Newfields School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Windham High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
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.