What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swampscott has the most people working from home (27.2%).

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	Swampscott	Windham
People
Population	15,277Lowest	16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±3.5Highest 14% above U.S.	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Swampscott and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Swampscott and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Swampscott and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,386±$23kLowest 66% above U.S.	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S.
	Swampscott and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,303±$143Lowest 63% above U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,936Lowest 154% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Swampscott and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Swampscott 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	#76 of 282 in MA	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Swampscott	Windham School District
High school in town	Swampscott High	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	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.