Compare towns

Standish vs Exeter 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

Standish has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k 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.

MeasureStandishExeterWindham
People
Population
10,662
913Lowest
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.5±2.8Lowest
4% above U.S.
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
Exeter and Windham 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%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,593±$15k
30% above U.S.
$77,550±$19kLowest
4% below 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
$336,000±$18k
about the U.S. average
$243,000±$89kLowest
27% below U.S.
$388,900±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$983±$453
30% below U.S.
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
$1,232±$332Highest
13% below U.S.
Windham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,005
4% below U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$3,938Highest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.4%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Standish and Windham 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%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.6%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Exeter 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 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

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.