What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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	Northbridge
People
Population	16,038Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S.	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Northbridge 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%	21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northbridge 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 U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northbridge 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.	$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Northbridge 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%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Windham and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Windham School District	Northbridge
High school in town	Windham High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.