Compare towns
Windham vs Durham vs Topsham vs Stratham
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Topsham | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
15,080 |
9,706 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Stratham 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377 78% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Stratham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Oyster River High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
12.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.