Compare towns
Dorchester vs Plaistow vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Dorchester | Plaistow | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
7,861 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Windham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,664±$187Lowest 12% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Plaistow 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.