Compare towns
Alna vs Windham vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($312k 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 | Alna | Windham | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 818Lowest |
19,188Highest |
2,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
| Windham and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Jefferson and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME |
| Windham and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,400±$55k 24% above ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME |
| Windham and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
| Windham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,667 21% above ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$2,587Lowest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Alna 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 14 | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.