Compare towns
Windham vs Stratham vs Norwich vs Bedford
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%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Bedford has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Stratham | Norwich | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
7,754 |
3,640Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Norwich 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Bedford 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. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bedford 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. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,781Lowest 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Bedford 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Norwich School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.5Highest |
| 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.