Compare towns

Worcester vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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.

MeasureWorcesterStraffordWindham
People
Population
831
4,306Highest
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
46.3±2.1
19% above U.S.
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% 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
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
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+
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4.1Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
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
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above 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
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$427,900±$29kHighest
29% above U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,086Highest
95% above U.S.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
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
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±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 — #73 of 120 in NH —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Strafford School District —
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.