Compare towns
Windham vs Portsmouth vs Rollinsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Portsmouth | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
22,545Highest |
2,626Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Windham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,809±$394Lowest 21% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Portsmouth School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.