Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Rochester
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
16,038Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Salem and Rochester 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Windham School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Windham High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
13.2Highest |
| 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.