Compare towns

Windham vs Strafford vs Worcester

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).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

MeasureWindhamStraffordWorcester
People
Population
594Lowest
4,306Highest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
46.3±2.1
19% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
Worcester and Strafford 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%
17.6%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Strafford and Windham 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%
19.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Worcester 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%
40.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Strafford 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.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Strafford 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.
$427,900±$29kHighest
29% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$6,086Highest
95% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford 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%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester 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 — #73 of 120 in NH —
School district — Strafford 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

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.