Compare towns
Windham vs Hudson vs Bow vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Hudson | Bow | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
25,557 |
8,335Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Hudson 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 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Bow 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 91% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 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 | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Hudson School District | Bow School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Alvirne High School | Bow High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.6 |
12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.