Compare towns
Winchester vs Jay vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Northfield has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Winchester | Jay | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,212 |
471Lowest |
4,971Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
42.6±5.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Jay and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northfield and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,723±$11kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,900±$20k 27% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,209±$143Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,076±$182Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Winchester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,314Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,097 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 120 in NH | — | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winchester School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.