Compare towns

Windham vs Norwich vs Stratham vs Pelham

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).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k 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.

MeasureWindhamNorwichStrathamPelham
People
Population
16,038Highest
3,640Lowest
7,754
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Highest
7% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Stratham 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%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7Lowest
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%
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Stratham and Pelham 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%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Lowest
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%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
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.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kLowest
68% above U.S.
Windham and Stratham 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.
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kLowest
66% above U.S.
Windham and Stratham 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.
$2,511±$377
78% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,781
214% above U.S.
$8,634Lowest
177% 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%
64%±38.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Stratham 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%
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH
School district Windham School District Norwich School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Pelham School District
High school in town Windham High School None in town None in town Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
— —
10.4Lowest
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.