Compare towns
Reading vs Standish vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Reading | Standish | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
10,662 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Windham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Windham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Windham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.