Compare towns
Windham vs Mason 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%).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Mason | Pelham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
1,451Lowest |
14,449 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Windham 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% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Pelham 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% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,530±$852 70% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Windham and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,049 6% 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% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Pelham 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Mason 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.