Compare towns
Windham vs Appleton vs Bow vs Merrimack
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%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 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 | Windham | Appleton | Bow | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
1,360Lowest |
8,335 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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 135% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147 37% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Appleton Public Schools | Bow School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bow High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.