Compare towns
Windham vs Northfield vs Braintree
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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Northfield | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
5,920 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Braintree 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.