Compare towns
Windham vs Durham vs Plaistow
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 20.8).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Durham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
15,080 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Highest 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Windham and Plaistow 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Plaistow 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Windham 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plaistow 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Oyster River High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.