What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).

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	Winchendon	Jaffrey
People
Population	10,440Highest	5,448Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average	42.9±3.9Highest 10% above U.S.
	Jaffrey and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jaffrey and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jaffrey and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Winchendon and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,690±$14kLowest 6% below U.S.	$92,330±$18kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Jaffrey and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average	$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S.	$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S.
	Winchendon and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,780Lowest 21% above U.S.	$6,196Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Winchendon and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Winchendon and Jaffrey 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	#269 of 282 in MA	#87 of 120 in NH
School district	Winchendon	Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
High school in town	Murdock High School	Conant Middle High School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	21.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.