What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).

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	Acton
People
Population	16,038Lowest	24,155Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S.
	Acton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Acton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.	$158,230±$14kLowest 96% above U.S.
	Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S.	$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.	$1,986±$155Lowest 41% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S.	$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#13 of 120 in NH	#13 of 282 in MA
School district	Windham School District	Acton-Boxborough
High school in town	Windham High School	Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.5Highest
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.