Compare towns

Windham vs Townsend vs Chichester

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%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Chichester has the most affordable homes ($409k median).

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.

MeasureWindhamTownsendChichester
People
Population
16,038Highest
9,100
2,745Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
43±3.3Highest
11% above U.S.
Chichester 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
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Townsend 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%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chichester and Townsend 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%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and Chichester 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.
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
$109,297±$13kLowest
35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$433,200±$22k
30% above U.S.
$409,300±$26kLowest
23% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above U.S.
$2,055±$275
45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
$7,189
130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.6%±34.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Chichester 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%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
30 minLowest
15% above U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±8
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Chichester 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 #136 of 282 in MA #75 of 120 in NH
School district Windham School District North Middlesex Chichester School District
High school in town Windham High School North Middlesex Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
13.1Highest
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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.