Compare towns
Windham vs Topsham vs Amherst
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%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Topsham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
9,706Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Amherst 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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 135% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Topsham 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Mt Ararat High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.2 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.