Compare towns
Windham vs Rupert vs Pelham 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%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Rupert | Pelham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
676Lowest |
14,449 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 135% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
— | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Pelham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | 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 |
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.