Compare towns
Loudon vs Windham vs Worcester vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Loudon has the highest household income ($107k).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Loudon | Windham | Worcester | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,692Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$48kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Loudon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821 87% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Loudon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | — | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.