Compare towns
Rye vs Windham vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Amherst has the most affordable homes ($538k 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 | Rye | Windham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
16,038Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Windham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.