What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ayer has the most affordable homes ($445k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Windham	Ayer
People
Population	16,038Highest	3,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	42.1±6.9Highest 8% above U.S.
	Ayer 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%	20.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Windham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer 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.	$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.	$444,600±$43kLowest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.	$1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Ayer 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%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windham and Ayer 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	#13 of 120 in NH	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Windham School District	—
High school in town	Windham High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
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.