Compare towns
Rochester vs Salem 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
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Rochester | Salem | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
30,964 |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Salem and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Salem School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Salem High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.