Compare towns
Windham vs Ashland vs Center Harbor
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Ashland | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
2,183 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Ashland 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% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Ashland 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 NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Windham and Ashland 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 |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Ashland 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% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Windham School District | Ashland School District | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.