Compare towns

Worcester vs Amherst vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureWorcesterAmherstWindham
People
Population
831
11,861Highest
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
45.9±3.5
18% above U.S.
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
Worcester and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
Amherst and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
65.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$153,196±$10kHighest
90% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$537,600±$30kHighest
62% above U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,462±$256Highest
3% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$9,773Highest
213% above U.S.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±9
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Amherst 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 — #20 of 120 in NH —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District —
High school in town None in town Souhegan Coop High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.