Compare towns
Lee vs North Windham vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
North Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k 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 | Lee | North Windham | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 925 |
5,417Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME |
42±3Lowest 6% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$88,522±$8kHighest 18% above ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$342,800±$29kHighest 16% above ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,248±$604Highest 10% above ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| North Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547 49% below ME |
$3,546Highest 17% above ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| North Windham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.