Compare towns
Windham vs Dummerston vs Strafford vs Bow
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%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Bow has the most renters (12.5% 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 | Dummerston | Strafford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
2,090 |
1,372Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow 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% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Strafford 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. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow 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. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Strafford 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Bow 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 | — | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | 12.8 |
| 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.