Compare towns
Salem vs Keene 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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Keene | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
22,939 |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Salem 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Keene School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Keene 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 | 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.