Compare towns
Middlesex vs Strafford vs Windham vs Berlin
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Strafford | Windham | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,372Lowest |
16,038Highest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Berlin 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Strafford 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% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District | Windham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.