What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).

Wayne has the highest household income ($91k).

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	Wayne
People
Population	1,432Highest	1,033Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.5±5.1Lowest 42% above NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
	Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	42.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±5Highest NY: 7%	1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Windham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,477±$17kLowest 11% below NY	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY	$266,700±$150kLowest 37% below NY
	Windham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$295Lowest 48% below NY	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY
	Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,363Lowest 49% below NY	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Windham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 18% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Windham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
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NY 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.