What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).

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	Derry
People
Population	19,188Lowest	34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S.	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Windham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Derry and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S.	$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S.
	Derry 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.	$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S.
	Derry and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S.	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry and Windham 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windham and Derry 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	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 14	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	Windham High School	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	13.9Highest
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.