Compare towns
Salem vs Springfield vs Windham vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Springfield | Windham | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
154,749Highest |
16,038 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Windham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Atkinson 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Springfield | Windham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Springfield Central High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.2 |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.