Compare towns
Salem vs Windsor vs Goffstown
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 expensive homes ($473k median).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Goffstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Windsor | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
2,060Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Goffstown 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$113,958±$12kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Goffstown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,002±$107Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Goffstown 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | — | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | — | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.