Compare towns
Windham vs Barnstead vs Worcester vs Brookline
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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Brookline has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Barnstead | Worcester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
4,994Highest |
831 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Barnstead and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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 | — | #111 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Barnstead School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.