Compare towns
Townsend vs Windham vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Pelham has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Townsend | Windham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
16,038Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windham School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windham High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.