Compare towns
Windham vs Barre vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Barre has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Windham | Barre | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
5,572Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Barre and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Barre and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Quabbin | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.