Compare towns
Windham vs Strafford vs Bow vs Pelham
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Pelham has the most renters (13.3% 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 | Strafford | Bow | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
1,372Lowest |
8,335 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Bow 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% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Bow 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. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Windham 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Strafford School District | Bow School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bow High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.