Compare towns
Groton vs Windham vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Waterford has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Groton | Windham | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
16,038Highest |
1,279 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.4±5.3 17% above U.S. |
| Groton and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waterford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$109,375±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$271,500±$22k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,238 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Windham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
99%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Waterford 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 | — | Windham School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| 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.