Compare towns
Windham vs Merrimack vs Hollis
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%).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
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 | Merrimack | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
28,164Highest |
8,603Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Merrimack 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% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Merrimack 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 91% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
$168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
| Windham and Hollis 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 |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
$675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
| Windham and Hollis 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 |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2% NH: 7.2% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Merrimack School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Merrimack High School | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.5 |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.