Compare towns
Windham vs Norwich vs Pelham vs Bedford
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).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k median).
Bedford has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Pelham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
3,640Lowest |
14,449 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Norwich 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% 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% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Norwich 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. |
$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bedford 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. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% 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±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% 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% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Bedford 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% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Norwich School District | Pelham School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Pelham High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.