Compare towns
Lee vs Windham vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Lee | Windham | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
16,038Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Lee and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 10 photos → | 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.