Compare towns
Oxford vs Windham vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Leicester has the shortest commute (27 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 | Oxford | Windham | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385 |
16,038Highest |
11,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8 8% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.5Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Leicester and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Leicester and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,862±$10kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$105,173±$9k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$413,100±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,487±$258 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 48% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,452Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Oxford 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 | #245 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #222 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Windham School District | Leicester |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Windham High School | Leicester High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.