Compare towns

Durham vs Windham vs Hollis

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureDurhamWindhamHollis
People
Population
15,080
16,038Highest
8,603Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
41.1±2.9
5% below NH
49.4±5Highest
14% above NH
Kids under 18
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
21%±4
NH: 18.2%
Windham and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
23.3%±4.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
62.7%
NH: 40.6%
57.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8
NH: 6%
3.6%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,056±$21kLowest
25% above NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
$168,883±$22k
71% above NH
Windham and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$504,300±$41kLowest
25% above NH
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
$675,900±$48k
68% above NH
Windham and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,429±$143Lowest
4% below NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
$1,598±$302
7% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
31.3%±19.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2%
NH: 7.2%
1.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
91.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below NH
31 minHighest
15% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
19.4%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4
NH: 16.8%
29%±6.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hollis 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 #9 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH #8 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District Windham School District Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District
High school in town Oyster River High School Windham High School Hollis-Brookline High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3
12.8Highest
11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 51 photos → 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.