Compare towns
Methuen vs Stratham 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
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Methuen | Stratham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 53,475Highest |
7,754Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±4.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Methuen | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Methuen High | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.