Compare towns
Brooks vs Windham vs Union vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Brooks | Windham | Union | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
19,188Highest |
2,663 |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
| Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Windham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Union 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 14 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| 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 |
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.