Compare towns
Windham vs Rye vs Stratham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Rye | Stratham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
5,611Lowest |
7,754 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest 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% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Stratham 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$135,956±$19kLowest 37% above NH |
| 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±$50k 80% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$552,600±$27kLowest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| 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 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,781 47% 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% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Rye 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 |
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.