What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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	Shaftsbury
People
Population	19,188Highest	3,607Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	43±6.6Highest 11% above U.S.
	Shaftsbury 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%	26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Shaftsbury 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%	21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Shaftsbury 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%	40.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windham and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S.	$86,071±$24kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Windham and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.	$267,300±$24kLowest 20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S.	$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Windham and Shaftsbury 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.	$4,015Highest 29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.7%±36Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Shaftsbury 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%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#95 of 133 in ME	#62 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 14	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town	Windham High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1	—
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.