Compare towns

Rochester vs Windham vs Dover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).

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.

MeasureRochesterWindhamDover
People
Population
1,389Lowest
19,188Highest
1,466
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.3±7.6
37% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
53.5±8.3Highest
38% above U.S.
Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
31.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.4%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,676±$8k
10% below U.S.
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$253,600±$81kLowest
24% below U.S.
$388,900±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
$332,900±$55k
about the U.S. average
Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$929±$158
34% below U.S.
$1,232±$332Highest
13% below U.S.
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
Windham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,977
28% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,510Highest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.4%±27.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
40.8%±27.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.2%±11.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Rochester and Dover 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 Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 RSU 14 River Valleys Unified School District #73
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.