Compare towns
Windham vs White River Junction vs Bow vs Merrimack
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%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Bow | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
3,364Lowest |
8,335 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147 37% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | — | Bow School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | Bow High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.