Compare towns
Windham vs Framingham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k median).
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 | Framingham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
72,399Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hampden 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% |
21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Framingham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden 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±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Framingham 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Framingham High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.7 |
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.