Compare towns

Windham vs Wellesley 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%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
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.

MeasureWindhamWellesleyBow
People
Population
16,038
30,347Highest
8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
37.1±2.2Lowest
5% below 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%
24.1%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Bow 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%
15.5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
89%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%
18.3%±0.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,583±$19k
135% above U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kLowest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50k
117% above U.S.
$1,582,700±$49kHighest
376% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$2,886±$360
104% above U.S.
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
Windham and Wellesley 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,584Lowest
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Wellesley 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%
4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #13 of 120 in NH #6 of 282 in MA #26 of 120 in NH
School district Windham School District Wellesley Bow School District
High school in town Windham High School Wellesley Sr High Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.8Lowest
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.