Compare towns
Dover vs Windham vs Rochester vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Dover | Windham | Rochester | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
19,188Highest |
1,389Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Townshend 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | RSU 14 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.