Compare towns
Windham vs Salem vs Hooksett vs Bedford
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).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Hooksett | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
30,964Highest |
15,057Lowest |
23,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
| Bedford 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%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bedford 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% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
| Windham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,099±$274 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Salem School District | Hooksett School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Salem High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.2Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.