Compare towns
Wales vs Windham vs Porter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has the most kids (30.2% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
Porter has the most affordable homes ($226k 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 | Wales | Windham | Porter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,924 |
19,188Highest |
1,746Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
40.9±7.9 9% below ME |
| Windham and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Porter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.6% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wales and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,004±$5k 3% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$60,417±$9kLowest 19% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,400±$28k 16% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$226,100±$20kLowest 24% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$64Lowest about the ME average |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
— |
| Windham and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,578 15% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$1,841Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Wales and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wales 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 04 | RSU 14 | — |
| High school in town | Oak Hill High School | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.