Compare towns
Salem vs Sandgate vs Windham
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 renters (22.9% rent).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Sandgate | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611 |
435Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$26k 41% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest 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 | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate 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 | #376 of 484 in NY | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Windham School District |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5Lowest |
— | 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.