What stands out worked out from the figures below

Providence has the most people working from home (14.3%).

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	Providence	Windham
People
Population	191,767Highest	23,961Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S.	33.7±1.9Highest 13% below U.S.
	Windham and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1 U.S.: 22%	20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	14.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windham and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,119±$3kHighest 16% below U.S.	$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S.	$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average	$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S.	$4,633Highest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.7% U.S.: 12.5%	20.7% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	47.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#36 of 38 in RI	#143 of 149 in CT
School district	MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town	Classical High School	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.2Highest	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.