Compare towns
Pelham vs Derry 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
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 | Derry | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
34,116Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Pelham and Windham 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% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest 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%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Pelham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Lowest 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% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 10% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Pinkerton Academy | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.9Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.