What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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	Springfield
People
Population	16,038Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S.	33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	24.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Windham and Springfield 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%	13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windham and Springfield 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%	20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S.	$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.	$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.	$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Windham 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%	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.6%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.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#13 of 120 in NH	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Windham School District	Springfield
High school in town	Windham High School	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.2Lowest
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.