What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k 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	Hanover
People
Population	19,188Highest	14,845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8 7% above U.S.	41.8±1.4 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover 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%	56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanover 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.	$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.	$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S.
	Hanover 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.	$9,342Highest 200% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover 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%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover 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	#69 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 14	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Windham High School	South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	10.3Lowest
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.