Compare towns

Windham vs Hartford vs Lyme vs Stratham

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).

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.

MeasureWindhamHartfordLymeStratham
People
Population
16,038Highest
10,736
1,710Lowest
7,754
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
48.6±7.8Highest
25% above U.S.
41.6±4.9
7% above U.S.
Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Hartford and Stratham 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.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
$645,000±$64k
94% above U.S.
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,418±$130
about the U.S. average
$2,511±$377
78% above U.S.
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,781
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Lyme 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%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Lyme and Stratham 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 #34 of 70 in VT — #43 of 120 in NH
School district Windham School District Hartford School District Lyme School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town Windham High School Hartford High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
9.6Lowest
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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.