What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

Windham has the oldest population (median age 56.5).

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	Brookline	Windham
People
Population	531Lowest	1,432Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.6%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average	$76,477±$17kLowest 5% below U.S.
	Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S.	$315,600±$74kHighest 5% below U.S.
	Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S.	$850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.	$3,363Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline and Windham 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

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.