Compare towns
Windham vs Alton vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Alton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Alton | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
5,994Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
— | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 15% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Prospect Mountain High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.