Compare towns
Windham vs Durham vs Merrimack vs Amherst
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Merrimack | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
10,681Lowest |
28,164Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | — | Merrimack School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | Merrimack High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.5 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.