Compare towns
Middlesex vs Windham vs Strafford
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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Windham | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
16,038Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 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±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham School District | Strafford School District |
| High school 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 |
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.