What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe
People
Population	19,188Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.
	Stowe 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%	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe 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%	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windham and Stowe 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.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.
	Stowe 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.	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Stowe 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%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe 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	—
School district	RSU 14	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Windham High School	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.3Lowest
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.