What stands out worked out from the figures below

Poland has the most affordable homes ($284k median).

Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Poland	Windham
People
Population	5,954Lowest	19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.2±9.4Highest about the ME average	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME
	Poland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	19.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Poland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4%	15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Poland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	44.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Poland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,557±$23kLowest 14% above ME	$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME
	Windham and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$283,600±$44kLowest 4% below ME	$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,198±$128Lowest 5% above ME	$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME
	Windham and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,774Lowest 9% below ME	$3,938Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4%	32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Poland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	26 minLowest 7% above ME
Work from home	21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9%	19%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Poland 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	#81 of 133 in ME	#95 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 16	RSU 14
High school in town	Poland Regional H S	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.