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 20.8).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Windham	Durham
People
Population	16,038Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.1±2.9Highest 5% below NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.5%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Windham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH	$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH	$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH	$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 50% above NH	$10,000+ at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest 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%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 15% above NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Windham and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Windham School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Windham High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.