What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k 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	Hanson	Windham
People
Population	10,660Lowest	16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S.	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windham and Hanson 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%	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kLowest 64% above U.S.	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kLowest 60% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Lowest 29% above U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Windham School District
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	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.