Compare towns
Windham vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Stratham has the most affordable homes ($655k median).
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 | Needham | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
32,459Highest |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Needham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kLowest 88% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kLowest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781Lowest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Needham 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% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Needham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.