Compare towns
Windham vs Salem vs Goffstown vs Hudson
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%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Goffstown | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Lowest |
30,964Highest |
18,513 |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Hudson 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% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Goffstown 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% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Windham 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% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Hudson 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Salem School District | Goffstown School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Salem High School | Goffstown High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.6 |
11.6 |
| 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.