Compare towns
Nelson vs Windham vs Harrisville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Harrisville has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
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 | Nelson | Windham | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
19,188Highest |
885 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58.9±5.5Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$103,036±$13k 28% above U.S. |
| Windham and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$430,500±$48kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Harrisville and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,611±$367Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Harrisville and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±90.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | RSU 14 | Harrisville School District |
| High school in town | None 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.