Compare towns
Windham vs Belfast vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Belfast | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
6,986Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Windham 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 44% above ME |
$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| 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±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$340,900±$34k 15% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Windham and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
| 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 30% above ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast 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 ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 7% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #84 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | RSU 71 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Belfast Area High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.