Compare towns
Windham vs Nelson vs Worcester vs Townshend
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 expensive homes ($354k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Nelson | Worcester | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
648 |
831 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Worcester 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Townshend 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. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Nelson 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±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Windham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Nelson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.