Compare towns
Windham vs Brookline vs Rye vs Amherst
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%).
Brookline has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Brookline | Rye | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
5,736 |
5,611Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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 91% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Rye 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Brookline School District | Rye School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.