Compare towns
Windham vs Hanover vs Lancaster vs Amherst
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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Lancaster | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
8,479 |
3,216Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Lancaster 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Amherst 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% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Amherst 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.