Compare towns

Knox vs Windham vs Columbia

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Knox has the most renters (19.9% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
Columbia has the most kids (24.2% 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.

MeasureKnoxWindhamColumbia
People
Population
825
19,188Highest
529Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+8.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
41.1±7.9Lowest
8% below ME
41.8±1.8
7% below ME
41.9±6.4Highest
6% below ME
Columbia and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±4.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.2%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
24.2%±4.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Columbia and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.9
ME: 22.4%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
25.9%±5.9Highest
ME: 22.4%
Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26%
ME: 36.2%
44.2%Highest
ME: 36.2%
21.2%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
9.1%±4.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,821±$9k
13% below ME
$107,934±$14kHighest
44% above ME
$56,667±$15kLowest
24% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$159,600±$26k
46% below ME
$388,900±$22kHighest
31% above ME
$158,700±$19kLowest
46% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,375±$47Highest
21% above ME
$1,232±$332
8% above ME
$894±$162Lowest
22% below ME
Knox and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,610
47% below ME
$3,938Highest
30% above ME
$1,226Lowest
60% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.3%±31.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
32.7%±14.7
ME: 48.4%
61.9%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Columbia and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
ME: 10.7%
3.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
84.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.8%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Lowest
8 yrs newer than ME
1985Lowest
8 yrs newer than ME
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
22% above ME
26 minLowest
7% above ME
31 minHighest
27% above ME
Work from home
12.3%±7.4
ME: 15.9%
19%±4.1Highest
ME: 15.9%
9%±5.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Windham and Knox 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 —
High school in town — Windham High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.