Compare towns
Amherst vs Kennebunk vs Stratham 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
Amherst has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Amherst | Kennebunk | Stratham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
11,820 |
7,754Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | RSU 21 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Kennebunk High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.6 |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.