Compare towns
Windham vs Bow vs Norwich 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%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Bow | Norwich | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
8,335 |
3,640Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest 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% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kLowest 68% 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. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Windham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Bow 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Bow School District | Norwich School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Bow High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.