What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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	Dudley	Windham
People
Population	11,929Lowest	16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S.	41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S.
	Windham and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.9%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dudley and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S.	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kLowest 18% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#142 of 282 in MA	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Windham School District
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	12.8Lowest
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.