What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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	Newton
People
Population	16,038Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	42.1±0.9Highest 8% above U.S.
	Newton 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%	20.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,583±$19kLowest 135% above U.S.	$190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S.
	Newton and Windham 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.	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.	$2,370±$81Lowest 68% 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%	43.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Newton 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%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#13 of 120 in NH	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Windham School District	Newton
High school in town	Windham High School	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.8Lowest
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.