What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k 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	Ipswich
People
Population	19,188Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	47.2±3.5Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Windham and Ipswich 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%	21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ipswich 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.	$138,750±$16kHighest 72% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.	$745,400±$40kHighest 124% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,598±$90Highest 13% above U.S.
	Ipswich 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.	$7,960Highest 155% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.5%±12.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ipswich 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%	5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windham and Ipswich 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	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 14	Ipswich
High school in town	Windham High School	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	9.0Lowest
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.