What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

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	Hampden
People
Population	19,188Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
	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 ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	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 ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden 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 44% above ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
	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±$22kHighest 31% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME
	Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,938Highest 30% above ME	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Windham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 7% above ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	19%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 14	RSU 22
High school in town	Windham High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.