Compare towns
Windham vs Lyme 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%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Windham | Lyme | Pelham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
1,710Lowest |
14,449 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Pelham 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 91% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older 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 |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Pelham 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Lyme School District | Pelham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Pelham High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 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.