Compare towns
Standish vs Dedham vs Windham vs Steep Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Steep Falls has the most affordable homes ($243k 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.
| Measure | Standish | Dedham | Windham | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,662 |
25,237Highest |
19,188 |
1,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
44.1±6.5 13% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±9.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Steep Falls and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$80,280±$33kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$243,400±$31kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,516±$1k 7% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,273 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±36.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Steep Falls and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
4%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | — | RSU 14 | — |
| High school 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 | 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.