Compare towns
Oakland vs Windham vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakland has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Oakland | Windham | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,309 |
16,038Highest |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,813±$16kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$107,917±$27k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$242,800±$15k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,109±$358 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,866 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Windham 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Messalonskee High School | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.