What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).

North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k 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	North Reading
People
Population	594Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.2±7.4Highest 14% above U.S.	43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Windham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	North Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Windham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S.	$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S.	$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,259±$356 60% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S.	$9,693Highest 211% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Reading 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	—	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	—	North Reading
High school in town	—	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.1
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.