Compare towns

Worcester vs Durham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureWorcesterDurhamWindham
People
Population
831
15,080Highest
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Highest
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+
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$124,056±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
Durham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$504,300±$41kHighest
52% above U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,429±$143Highest
about the U.S. average
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
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 — #9 of 120 in NH —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Oyster River Coop School District —
High school in town None in town Oyster River High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 51 photos → 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.