Compare towns
Carmel vs Hampden vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($229k 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 | Carmel | Hampden | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,941 |
7,896Highest |
2,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
43.5±8 about the ME average |
| Carmel and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hampden and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$63,178±$5kLowest 15% below ME |
| Hampden and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$228,800±$22kLowest 23% below ME |
| Hampden and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187 12% above ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$1,265±$400Lowest 11% above ME |
| Hampden and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,662 12% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME | #44 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 22 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.