Compare towns
Windham vs Dover vs Bow 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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pelham has the most renters (13.3% rent).
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 | Dover | Bow | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
5,930Lowest |
8,335 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Dover and Bow 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% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Dover 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% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2k 106% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Dover 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Bow School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Bow High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.