Compare towns
Windham vs Castleton vs Topsham 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 the most expensive homes ($389k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
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 | Castleton | Topsham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
4,453Lowest |
9,706 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Topsham 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% 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±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
| Windham and Topsham 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. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Topsham 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,259Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Topsham 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.2 |
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.