Compare towns
Middlefield vs Windham vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% 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 | Middlefield | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
19,188Highest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$89,390±$6kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Windham and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$281,900±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Windham and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,104±$71Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Middlefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,522 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Middlefield 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 | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.