Compare towns
Windham vs Dorset vs Londonderry vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Londonderry has the most affordable homes ($470k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Windham | Dorset | Londonderry | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
2,092Lowest |
12,225 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.4±1 9% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Londonderry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$119,571±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$469,500±$23kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,952±$135 38% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,568 143% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #37 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.