Compare towns
Strafford vs Windham vs Mendon vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Strafford | Windham | Mendon | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
16,038Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Windham School District | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.