Compare towns
Windham vs Townsend vs Exeter vs Pelham
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 the highest household income ($190k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Townsend | Exeter | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
9,100Lowest |
16,151Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Pelham 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Pelham 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Pelham 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% 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% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | North Middlesex Regional | Exeter High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.