Compare towns
Windham vs Lebanon vs Pelham 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%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Lebanon | Pelham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
14,999 |
14,449Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Pelham 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Pelham 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Pelham 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 |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Windham 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Lebanon School District | Pelham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Lebanon High School | Pelham High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.7 |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.