Compare towns
Windham vs Hampstead vs Chester
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%).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Hampstead | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
9,102 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Chester 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 91% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Hampstead 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988Lowest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Hampstead School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.