What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the most affordable homes ($447k 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	Fairhaven	Windham
People
Population	15,903Lowest	16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 25% above U.S.	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kLowest 19% above U.S.	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kLowest 34% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#126 of 282 in MA	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Fairhaven	Windham School District
High school in town	Fairhaven High	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.8Highest
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.