Compare towns

Windham vs Pepperell vs Hudson

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%).
Pepperell has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k 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.

MeasureWindhamPepperellHudson
People
Population
16,038
11,663Lowest
25,557Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
45.7±1.9Highest
17% above U.S.
Hudson and Pepperell 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%
20.1%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
16.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hudson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hudson and Pepperell 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.
$124,073±$12kLowest
54% above U.S.
$124,213±$6k
54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
$438,900±$11kLowest
32% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,295±$238Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,735±$123
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,698
115% above U.S.
$6,636Lowest
113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
34.3%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Pepperell 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%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Hudson 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 #153 of 282 in MA #63 of 120 in NH
School district Windham School District North Middlesex Hudson School District
High school in town Windham High School None in town Alvirne High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
11.6Lowest
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.