Compare towns
Windham vs Lyndeborough vs Hudson vs Bow
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%).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Hudson has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Lyndeborough | Hudson | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
1,616Lowest |
25,557Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Bow 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 |
$116,964±$17kLowest 18% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% 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 |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
31 min 18% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest 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 | — | #63 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Hudson School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Alvirne High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.