What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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	Newton
People
Population	19,188Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	42.1±0.9Highest 8% above U.S.
	Newton 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%	20.5%±1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Newton 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%	19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S.	$190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.	$2,370±$81Highest 68% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newton 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%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#95 of 133 in ME	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 14	Newton
High school in town	Windham High School	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	10.8Lowest
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.