Compare towns
Barnet vs Windham vs Ryegate vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Barnet | Windham | Ryegate | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
19,188Highest |
1,059Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
| Windham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Windham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
| Sharon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Barnet 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 | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | RSU 14 | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.