What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k median).

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).

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	Jefferson	Windham
People
Population	1,226Lowest	1,432Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.9±5.2Lowest 35% above NY	56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY
	Windham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%	11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Jefferson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±6.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	31.4%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Windham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1Lowest NY: 7%	6.6%±5Highest NY: 7%
	Windham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,083±$9kLowest 22% below NY	$76,477±$17kHighest 11% below NY
	Windham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$186,900±$42kLowest 56% below NY	$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$850±$295 48% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,602Highest 45% below NY	$3,363Lowest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	68.9%±35.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Jefferson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest NY: 14%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NY: 54.3%	89%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 19 yrs newer than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 3% below NY	27 minLowest 18% below NY
Work from home	23.6%±10.3Highest NY: 14.9%	17.1%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Jefferson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.