Compare towns

Windham vs Worcester 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 most kids (17.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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.

MeasureWindhamWorcesterHamptonChester
People
Population
594Lowest
831
16,426Highest
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%
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.
47±2.7
21% 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%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Chester 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%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
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%
53%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%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$95,233±$9kHighest
18% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Hampton 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.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$550,200±$39kHighest
65% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$4,421
42% 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%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
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%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older 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
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester 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.