Compare towns
Windham vs Rupert 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).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
676Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest 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. |
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% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest 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% |
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% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Windham 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. |
$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. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
— | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest 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% |
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. |
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 |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Rupert 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.