Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs East Haddam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
East Haddam has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Salem | Windham | East Haddam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
23,961Highest |
8,969 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
50±2.9Highest 22% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.6%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| East Haddam and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$107,861±$9k 13% above CT |
| Salem and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$352,700±$24k 4% below CT |
| Salem and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,242±$331 17% below CT |
| Salem and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,724 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.5Highest CT: 16% |
| East Haddam 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #68 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | East Haddam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Nathan Hale-Ray High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.