What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most people working from home (19%).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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	Alton
People
Population	19,188Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Windham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S.	$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Alton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.	$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Alton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332 13% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S.	$4,183Highest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windham and Alton 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	#95 of 133 in ME	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 14	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Windham High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.1Lowest
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.