Compare towns
Appleton vs Pelham vs Windham vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Appleton | Pelham | Windham | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
14,449 |
16,038Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 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+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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 | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Pelham School District | Windham School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.