Compare towns
Windham vs Pembroke vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Pembroke | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Lowest |
18,382Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke 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% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,585Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pembroke 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Pembroke 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 | — | #82 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Pembroke | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Pembroke High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.