What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most kids (16.5% under 18).

Windham has the most people working from home (17.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Windham
People
Population	701Lowest	1,432Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.2±6.8Lowest 39% above NY	56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY
	Windham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ashland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.2%±8.3Highest NY: 17.9%	31.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ashland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.3Lowest NY: 7%	6.6%±5Highest NY: 7%
	Windham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,583±$23kLowest 19% below NY	$76,477±$17kHighest 11% below NY
	Windham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$247,300±$47kLowest 42% below NY	$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY
	Windham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$135Highest 30% below NY	$850±$295Lowest 48% below NY
	Ashland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,340Highest 34% below NY	$3,363Lowest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.3%±41.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Windham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest NY: 14%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 25% below NY	27 minHighest 18% below NY
Work from home	8.3%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Windham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.