Compare towns
Jackson vs North Windham vs Windham vs Thorndike
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
North Windham has the oldest population (median age 42).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% 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 | Jackson | North Windham | Windham | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
5,417 |
19,188Highest |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
42±3Highest 6% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| North Windham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| North Windham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
37% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| North Windham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average |
$88,522±$8k 18% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
| Windham and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$342,800±$29k 16% above ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
| Windham and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,248±$604Highest 10% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| North Windham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$3,546 17% above ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$2,537Lowest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.7%±14.3 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Thorndike and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.1% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and North Windham 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 | — | — | RSU 14 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | — | Windham High School | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.