What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).

Providence has the most people working from home (14.3%).

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	Windham	Providence
People
Population	23,961Lowest	191,767Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	33.7±1.9Highest 13% below U.S.	32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Windham and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22%	20.1%±1 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	14.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windham and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S.	$68,119±$3kHighest 16% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S.	$362,200±$8kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,633Highest 49% above U.S.	$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.7% U.S.: 12.5%	20.7% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#143 of 149 in CT	#36 of 38 in RI
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative
High school in town	Windham High School	Classical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	17.2Highest
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.