Compare towns
Windham vs Everett vs Chelsea
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 the most homeowners (93.9%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% 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 | Everett | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Lowest |
50,045Highest |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
34.4±1.3Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett and Chelsea 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. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$72,179±$8kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$493,500±$24kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,956±$96Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$3,321Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chelsea and Everett 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% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Windham School District | Everett | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Everett High | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

