What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most people working from home (19%).

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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	Hanson
People
Population	19,188Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S.
	Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hanson 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 U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanson 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.	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.
	Hanson 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.	$6,402Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#95 of 133 in ME	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 14	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Windham High School	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	14.7Highest
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.