Compare towns
Windham vs Weare vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Merrimack 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 | Weare | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038 |
9,170Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Weare and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Merrimack and Windham 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 NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Merrimack and Weare 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 91% above NH |
$118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | John Stark Regional High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.