What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).

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	North Windham	Springfield
People
Population	5,417Highest	1,122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42±3Lowest 8% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S.
	Springfield and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Windham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Springfield and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Springfield and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Springfield and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,248±$604Highest 12% below U.S.	$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S.
	North Windham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.7%±14.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Windham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Windham and Springfield 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

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.