Compare towns
Windham vs Hampton vs Bow vs Merrimack
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%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
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 | Hampton | Bow | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
16,426 |
8,335Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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 |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Windham 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Winnacunnet High School | Bow High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.