Compare towns

Windham vs Goffstown vs Chester

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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Goffstown has the highest household income ($114k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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.

MeasureWindhamGoffstownChester
People
Population
594Lowest
18,513Highest
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$113,958±$12kHighest
41% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Goffstown 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.
$377,400±$20kHighest
13% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Goffstown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,231±$161Highest
13% below U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$6,941Highest
123% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Goffstown and Windham 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%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Chester 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 — #35 of 120 in NH #49 of 70 in VT
School district — Goffstown School District Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town — Goffstown High School Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6Highest
8.7Lowest
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.