Compare towns
Windham vs Rye vs Exeter vs Pelham
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 the highest household income ($190k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Exeter | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
5,611Lowest |
16,151Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Pelham 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Pelham 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Windham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.