Compare towns
Salem vs Plainfield vs Hooksett 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 renters (24.4% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Plainfield | Hooksett | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
1,314Lowest |
15,057 |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Salem 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% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% 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% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | — | Hooksett School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | — | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.