Compare towns
Windham vs Townsend 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Townsend | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
9,100Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Windham 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | North Middlesex | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | North Middlesex Regional | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.