Compare towns
Salem vs Durham 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
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
15,080Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Salem and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Windham 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 NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Durham 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Oyster River High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.3 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.