Compare towns

Standish vs Plainfield 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 most affordable homes ($336k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureStandishPlainfieldWindham
People
Population
10,662
2,522Lowest
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.5±2.8
4% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±1.8Highest
7% above U.S.
Windham and Standish 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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield 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%
19.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,593±$15kLowest
30% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$107,934±$14k
34% above U.S.
Plainfield 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±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$388,900±$22k
17% above U.S.
Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$983±$453Lowest
30% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,232±$332
13% below U.S.
Plainfield and Windham 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.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$3,938
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.4%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
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%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
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.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.6%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Plainfield 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 #19 of 120 in NH #95 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 06/MSAD 06 Plainfield School District RSU 14
High school in town Bonny Eagle High School None in town 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.