Compare towns
Windham vs Salem vs Dracut vs Pelham
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%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Dracut has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Salem | Dracut | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
30,964 |
32,574Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Salem and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Dracut 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Dracut 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. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Dracut 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Salem School District | Dracut | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Salem High School | Dracut Senior High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.2 |
12.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.