Compare towns
Salem vs Pelham 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 most affordable homes ($473k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Pelham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
14,449Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Pelham 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% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Windham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Pelham School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Pelham High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
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.