Compare towns
Windham vs Ashby vs Pepperell
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%).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Ashby | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
3,211Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Pepperell 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% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Windham 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. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Pepperell 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% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Pepperell 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Windham School District | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.