Compare towns
Windham vs Dracut vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Dracut | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
32,574Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dracut 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% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Dracut 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. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Windham 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Dracut | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dracut Senior High | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.