Compare towns
Windham vs Suncook vs Keene vs Bow
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%).
Suncook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Suncook | Keene | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
5,432Lowest |
22,939Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
37.9±8.1 12% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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 NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$79,836±$25k 19% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
| 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 80% above NH |
$361,100±$22k 10% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,975 5% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Suncook 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% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.5% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Windham 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | — | Keene School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | Keene High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.