What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Madison has the most affordable homes ($389k 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	Madison
People
Population	16,038Highest	2,680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH	50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH
	Madison 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 NH: 18.2%	23.1%±6.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Windham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Madison 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Windham and Madison 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 91% above NH	$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH	$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH	$1,556±$256Lowest 4% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$4,074Lowest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 15% above NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#13 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Windham School District	Madison School District
High school in town	Windham High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.