Compare towns
Montgomery vs Plainfield vs Windham vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k 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 | Montgomery | Plainfield | Windham | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
1,314 |
16,038Highest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$57,404±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$945±$46 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 39% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Windham School District | Lowell 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 | 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.