Compare towns
Amherst vs Pepperell 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 most people working from home (32.4%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Pepperell | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
11,663Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% 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% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | North Middlesex | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.