Compare towns
Windham vs Townsend vs Hollis vs Stratham
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 affordable homes ($433k median).
Hollis has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Hollis | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
9,100 |
8,603 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Stratham 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Stratham 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis and Stratham 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Stratham 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±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48k 103% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% 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. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis and Stratham 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | North Middlesex | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | North Middlesex Regional | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
11.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.