Compare towns
Fairlee vs Ogunquit vs Windham vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Fairlee | Ogunquit | Windham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,379 |
19,188Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Windham and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Rochester 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | RSU 14 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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 |
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.



