Compare towns
Windham vs Exeter vs Durham vs Hudson
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 the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k 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 | Exeter | Durham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
16,151 |
15,080Lowest |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Hudson 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hudson 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School | Oyster River High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
12.3 |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.