Compare towns
Windham vs Middlesex vs Hampton 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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Middlesex | Hampton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,943 |
16,426Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Chester 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Chester 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% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Chester 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hampton 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hampton 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 | — | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.