Compare towns
Stark vs Windham vs Northumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Northumberland has the most affordable homes ($120k 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 | Stark | Windham | Northumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419Lowest |
19,188Highest |
1,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.7±6.2 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,750±$23k 11% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$40,268±$7kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Windham and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34k 41% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$120,100±$15kLowest 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,018±$96Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Windham and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,938Highest 26% above U.S. |
$2,794 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.7%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northumberland and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Stark 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 | Stark School District | RSU 14 | Northumberland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Groveton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.