Compare towns
Windham vs Dorset vs Pelham vs Amherst
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%).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Pelham has the most renters (13.3% rent).
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 | Dorset | Pelham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
2,092Lowest |
14,449 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Amherst 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 135% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Pelham 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Dorset 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Pelham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Pelham High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
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.