Compare towns
Windham vs Newfields vs Hampstead 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%).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
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 | Newfields | Hampstead | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
2,023Lowest |
9,102 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Hampstead 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Hampstead 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 91% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Newfields 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±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Windham and Newfields 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 |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Hampstead 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Newfields 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Newfields School District | Hampstead School District | 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 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.