Compare towns
Benson vs Windham vs Waterville vs Shoreham
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Shoreham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Windham | Waterville | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
19,188Highest |
680Lowest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville 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% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23k 16% above U.S. |
| Windham and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Waterville 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 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 | RSU 14 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | 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.