What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most affordable homes ($246k 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	Rockland	Windham
People
Population	7,035Lowest	16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S.	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Rockland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windham and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S.	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,059Lowest 30% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rockland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	12 minLowest 53% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	22.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rockland 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	#96 of 133 in ME	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13	Windham School District
High school in town	Oceanside High School	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.8Highest
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.