Compare towns

Standish vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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.

MeasureStandishSalisburyWindham
People
Population
10,662
1,609Lowest
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.5±2.8Lowest
4% above U.S.
51.5±4.5Highest
32% above U.S.
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury 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%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,593±$15kLowest
30% above U.S.
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
$107,934±$14k
34% above U.S.
Salisbury 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
$363,400±$47k
9% above U.S.
$388,900±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
Windham and Salisbury 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.
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,232±$332
13% below U.S.
Salisbury 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.
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
$3,938
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%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.6%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury 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 RSU 06/MSAD 06 Merrimack Valley 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 Our Story 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.