Compare towns
Windham vs Cornwall vs Strafford 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%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
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 | Cornwall | Strafford | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,372 |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Strafford 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% 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 | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 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 |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Hampden 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | 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 | 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.