Compare towns

Lisbon Falls vs Windham vs Gardiner

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon Falls has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

MeasureLisbon FallsWindhamGardiner
People
Population
4,267Lowest
19,188Highest
6,088
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+8.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.1±4.4Lowest
8% below ME
41.8±1.8
7% below ME
42±3.6Highest
6% below ME
Gardiner and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
19.2%±2.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Windham and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.3
ME: 22.4%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
19.7%±3.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Gardiner and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.2%Highest
ME: 36.2%
29.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.1%±1.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Gardiner and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,344±$9k
3% below ME
$107,934±$14kHighest
44% above ME
$71,782±$10kLowest
4% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,700±$25k
17% below ME
$388,900±$22kHighest
31% above ME
$221,600±$19kLowest
25% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$971±$450Lowest
15% below ME
$1,232±$332Highest
8% above ME
$1,113±$191
about the ME average
Windham and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,947
about the ME average
$3,938Highest
30% above ME
$2,742Lowest
10% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.9%±18Lowest
ME: 48.4%
32.7%±14.7
ME: 48.4%
44.6%±13.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
Gardiner and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
ME: 10.7%
3.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.1%
ME: 74.3%
84.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
68.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
10 yrs older than ME
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1944Lowest
33 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
20% above ME
26 minLowest
7% above ME
30 minHighest
22% above ME
Work from home
6.6%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19%±4.1Highest
ME: 15.9%
13.9%±4.1
ME: 15.9%
Windham and Gardiner 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 #36 of 133 in ME
School district — RSU 14 RSU 11/MSAD 11
High school in town — Windham High School Gardiner Area High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Highest
11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.