What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vinalhaven has the oldest population (median age 65.1).

North Windham has the most kids (16.6% under 18).

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	Vinalhaven	North Windham
People
Population	1,216Lowest	5,417Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME	42±3Lowest 6% below ME
Kids under 18	11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	North Windham and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	37%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	North Windham and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average	$88,522±$8kHighest 18% above ME
	North Windham and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME	$342,800±$29kLowest 16% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME	$1,248±$604Highest 10% above ME
	North Windham and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,598Highest 19% above ME	$3,546Lowest 17% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4%	30.7%±14.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Vinalhaven and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	26 minHighest 7% above ME
Work from home	19.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	North Windham and Vinalhaven 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

ME 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.