Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Wolfeboro
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
16,038 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Salem and Windham 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 12% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Salem 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Windham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Windham High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.