Compare towns
Sheldon vs Stratham vs Windham vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most renters (11% rent).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Sheldon | Stratham | Windham | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
7,754 |
16,038Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.