Compare towns

Stratham vs Thetford vs Amherst vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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.

MeasureStrathamThetfordAmherstWindham
People
Population
7,754
2,813Lowest
11,861
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
43.6±6.2
12% above U.S.
45.9±3.5Highest
18% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
Amherst and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thetford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
68%
U.S.: 35.7%
65.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Thetford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
$88,045±$16kLowest
9% above U.S.
$153,196±$10k
90% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
$329,500±$96kLowest
about the U.S. average
$537,600±$30k
62% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above 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
$2,511±$377
78% above U.S.
$1,141±$96Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,462±$256
3% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% 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
$9,781
214% above U.S.
$6,948Lowest
123% above U.S.
$9,773
213% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±30.1
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Amherst and Stratham 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 #40 of 70 in VT #20 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Thetford School District Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Windham School District
High school in town None in town None in town Souhegan Coop High School 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 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.