Compare towns

Windham vs Waitsfield vs Strafford

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%).
Waitsfield has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

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.

MeasureWindhamWaitsfieldStrafford
People
Population
16,038Highest
1,918
1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.3±5.3
14% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
Strafford and Waitsfield 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%
23.8%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Waitsfield 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%
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Waitsfield and Strafford 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%
63.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford 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.
$84,375±$34kLowest
5% above U.S.
$110,833±$19k
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$422,400±$92kLowest
27% above U.S.
$431,300±$40k
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,200±$821
15% below U.S.
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,208Lowest
99% above U.S.
$7,149
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±30.6
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Waitsfield 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Waitsfield 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 — —
School district Windham School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Strafford School District
High school in town Windham High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
— —
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.