Compare towns
Windham vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Wakefield | Worcester | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
5,405Highest |
831 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Wakefield 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% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 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% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Wakefield 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. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield 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. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Windham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 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 |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Worcester 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Wakefield 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.