Compare towns
Windham vs Dracut vs Stratham vs Merrimack
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%).
Dracut has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Dracut | Stratham | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
32,574Highest |
7,754Lowest |
28,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Stratham 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% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Dracut 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147 37% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham 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. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Dracut 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Windham 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Dracut | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| 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.