Compare towns
Windham vs Stowe vs Pelham 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 highest household income ($190k).
Stowe has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Stowe | Pelham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
5,285Lowest |
14,449 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Salem 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. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Pelham 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Stowe Town School District | Pelham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Stowe High School | Pelham High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.3 |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.