Compare towns
Orange vs Washington vs Windham vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Wells has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Orange | Washington | Windham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,056 |
16,038Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Windham School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.