Compare towns
Windham vs Dorset vs Waitsfield 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%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Dorset | Waitsfield | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
2,092 |
1,918Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Waitsfield 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% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Dorset 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% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest 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% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest 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±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% 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% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Pelham 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 |
| School district | Windham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Pelham 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 |
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.