Compare towns
Acton vs Pelham vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Pelham has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Acton | Pelham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
14,449 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #48 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Pelham School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.