Compare towns
Windham vs Dover vs New Castle vs Stratham
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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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 | Dover | New Castle | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
33,364Highest |
827Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Stratham 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$176,953±$29k 79% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Windham and New Castle 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 |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350 116% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Stratham 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Dover School District | New Castle School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.