Compare towns
Windham vs Bowdoin 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%).
Bowdoin has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Bowdoin | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
3,188Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Bowdoin 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 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest 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%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$91,239±$13kLowest 22% above 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 |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 8% above 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 | $3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$3,375Lowest 11% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Windham and Hampden 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% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest 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 | #28 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 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.