Compare towns
Pelham vs Chester vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Pelham | Chester | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
5,300Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Chester and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kLowest 37% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$552,300±$42kLowest 37% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 10% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Chester School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.