What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k 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	Grafton	Windham
People
Population	19,902Highest	16,038Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.6 6% above U.S.	41.1±2.9 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Grafton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,484±$11kLowest 63% above U.S.	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,300±$37kLowest 58% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,117Lowest 128% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	22.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Grafton 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	#67 of 282 in MA	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Grafton	Windham School District
High school in town	Grafton High School	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	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.