Compare towns
Hollis vs Standish vs Windham vs Waterboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Standish has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Windham has the most people working from home (19%).
Waterboro has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Hollis | Standish | Windham | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,872Lowest |
10,662 |
19,188Highest |
8,055 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±4.2Highest about the ME average |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
42±3.1 6% below ME |
| Hollis and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waterboro and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hollis and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% ME: 36.2% |
36% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,950±$24k 28% above ME |
$104,593±$15k 40% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$89,392±$16kLowest 20% above ME |
| Windham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,900±$27k 14% above ME |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$297,000±$23kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$293Highest 20% above ME |
$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,200±$461 5% above ME |
| Hollis and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,625Lowest 14% below ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$2,772 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±30.2 ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Standish and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Hollis 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 | #88 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 14 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Windham High School | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
12.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.