What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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	Wellesley	Windham
People
Population	30,347Highest	16,038Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S.	41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S.
	Windham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Windham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	89%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 210% above U.S.	$189,583±$19kLowest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S.	$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,886±$360Lowest 104% above U.S.	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.
	Windham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S.	$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.4%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	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	32%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 282 in MA	#13 of 120 in NH
School district	Wellesley	Windham School District
High school in town	Wellesley Sr High	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	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.