Compare towns
Windham vs North Reading vs Amherst
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%).
North Reading has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Amherst has the most affordable homes ($538k 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 Reading | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
15,765 |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Reading 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 135% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25kLowest 83% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S. |
| Windham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,259±$356 60% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,693Lowest 211% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Windham 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | North Reading | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | North Reading High | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.