What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hadley has the most expensive homes ($511k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Windham	Hadley
People
Population	19,188Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	45.8±7.1Highest 18% above U.S.
	Hadley and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Windham and Hadley 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%	24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S.	$119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S.
	Hadley 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.	$511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,402±$132Highest about the U.S. average
	Hadley 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.	$5,271Highest 69% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.6%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hadley 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%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 14	Hadley
High school in town	Windham High School	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	7.3Lowest
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.