Compare towns
Benson vs Waterville 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
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Benson | Waterville | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
680Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Benson 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 |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.