Compare towns
Benson vs Orwell vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Benson | Orwell | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,294 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Windham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| 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.