Compare towns

Stratham vs Windham vs Townsend vs Newfields

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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Newfields has the oldest population (median age 44.1).

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.

MeasureStrathamWindhamTownsendNewfields
People
Population
7,754
16,038Highest
9,100
2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Highest
13% above U.S.
Newfields and Stratham 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%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
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%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stratham and Townsend 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%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Townsend 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.
$189,583±$19k
135% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
Newfields and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% 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.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% 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%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1991
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 min
17% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 #13 of 120 in NH #136 of 282 in MA —
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Windham School District North Middlesex Newfields School District
High school in town None in town Windham High School North Middlesex Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Lowest
13.1Highest
—
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.