Compare towns
Windham vs Thornton vs Wolfeboro
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).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Wolfeboro has the most renters (21.9% 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 | Thornton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
2,799Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Windham 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 |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Windham 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% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Wolfeboro 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Thornton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.