Compare towns
Windham vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Amherst
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Amherst 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Windham 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Windham 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.