Compare towns
Middlesex vs Pelham vs Windham vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Pelham | Windham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
14,449Highest |
594Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Pelham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Pelham School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.



