Compare towns
Windham vs Sandgate 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 the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Salem has the most renters (22.9% 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 | Sandgate | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
435Lowest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| Sandgate 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Sandgate 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. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
— | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Salem 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Windham School District | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 8.5Lowest |
| 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.