Compare towns
Windham vs Brighton 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%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Brighton | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,167Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Brighton 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% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%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% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Brighton 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. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below 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±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% 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 | $3,938Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton 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% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 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 |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Brighton School District | 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 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.