Compare towns
Hampden vs Middlesex vs Windham vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($286k 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 | Hampden | Middlesex | Windham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,896 |
1,943Lowest |
19,188Highest |
5,161 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
41.1±6.3 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$112,228±$22kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$285,900±$33kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Windham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,133±$375Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,863 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.2%±18 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 14 | — |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.