Compare towns
Windham vs Biddeford vs Pelham
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%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Biddeford | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
22,498Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Windham 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% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Pelham 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% |
17.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Biddeford and Pelham 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% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Biddeford Public Schools | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Biddeford High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.