Compare towns
Windham vs Norwich vs Exeter vs Bow
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%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Norwich | Exeter | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
3,640Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bow 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% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Bow 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. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Windham and Norwich 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. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.