What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).

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	Stoneham	Windham
People
Population	23,355Highest	16,038Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S.	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Stoneham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S.	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kLowest 102% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.
	Windham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Lowest 44% above U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stoneham 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	#117 of 282 in MA	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Stoneham	Windham School District
High school in town	Stoneham High	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.