Compare towns
Windham vs Benson vs Hampden vs Berwick
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 the most expensive homes ($389k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Benson | Hampden | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
784Lowest |
7,896 |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Berwick 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson 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. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% 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±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Windham and Berwick 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. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Hampden 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. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,436Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Berwick 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Berwick 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 22 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.