Compare towns

Windham vs Calais vs Westminster

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%).
Calais has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

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.

MeasureWindhamCalaisWestminster
People
Population
16,038Highest
1,713Lowest
2,999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
Westminster and Calais 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%
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Calais 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%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster and Calais 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%
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Westminster 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.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$71,491±$4kLowest
11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$273,800±$35kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$916±$126Lowest
35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,586
111% above U.S.
$4,063Lowest
30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Westminster 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%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and Calais 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 — #53 of 70 in VT
School district Windham School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town Windham High School None in town Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
10.6Lowest
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.