Compare towns
Windham vs Rye vs Amherst vs Merrimack
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Rye | Amherst | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
5,611Lowest |
11,861 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Merrimack and Windham 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 91% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Rye School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.