Compare towns
Windham vs Walpole vs Bow
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%).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Walpole | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
26,388Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Bow 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% |
25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Walpole 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% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Walpole 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. |
$171,500±$16kLowest 112% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow 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. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Windham and Walpole 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. |
$2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,523Lowest 173% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Bow 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% |
3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole and Bow 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Walpole High | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.