Compare towns
Windham vs Nelson vs Amherst
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%).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Amherst has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Nelson | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
648Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Windham and Amherst 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Nelson 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 | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Nelson School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.