What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	19,188Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S.	33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windham and Worcester 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%	35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S.	$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S.	$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S.
	Worcester 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.	$4,733Highest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#95 of 133 in ME	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 14	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Windham High School	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	14.6Highest
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.