What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).

Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).

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	Hanson	Windham
People
Population	10,660Lowest	23,961Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S.	33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.	$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.	$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.	$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 105% above U.S.	$4,633Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanson 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	#149 of 282 in MA	#143 of 149 in CT
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	9.8Lowest
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.