Compare towns
Peru vs Windham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Peru | Windham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Lowest |
19,188Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Windham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Windham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Washington 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 56 | RSU 14 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
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.