Compare towns
Windham vs North Hampton vs Merrimack
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%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | North Hampton | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
4,543Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest 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 |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
| Windham and North Hampton 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 |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Windham and North Hampton 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 |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | North Hampton School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| 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.