Compare towns
Salem vs Andover vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Salem | Andover | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
36,652Highest |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Salem and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.