What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).

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	Walpole
People
Population	16,038Lowest	26,388Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S.	40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Windham and Walpole 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%	25.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Windham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Walpole 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Walpole 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.	$171,500±$16kLowest 112% above U.S.
	Windham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S.	$687,100±$20kLowest 107% above U.S.
	Windham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S.	$2,205±$222Lowest 56% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$8,523Lowest 173% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham and Walpole 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%	3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Walpole and Windham 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	#107 of 282 in MA
School district	Windham School District	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole
High school in town	Windham High School	Walpole High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.3Lowest
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.