Compare towns

Hartford vs Amherst 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

Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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.

MeasureHartfordAmherstWindham
People
Population
10,736Lowest
11,861
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
45.9±3.5Highest
18% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
Amherst and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
65.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Hartford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
$153,196±$10k
90% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
$537,600±$30k
62% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,462±$256
3% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$9,773
213% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #34 of 70 in VT #20 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH
School district Hartford School District Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Windham School District
High school in town Hartford High School Souhegan Coop High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.6Lowest
10.4
12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.