Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Jackson
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 ($196k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611 |
16,038Highest |
1,695Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Salem 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #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 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.