Compare towns
Windham vs Sutton vs Lancaster vs North Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Sutton | Lancaster | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
9,452 |
8,606 |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Windham 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±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,248±$604 12% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 14 | Sutton | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Sutton High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.