Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Andover
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 affordable homes ($473k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
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 | Windham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
16,038Lowest |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Salem and Andover 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Andover 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | Windham School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Windham High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.