Compare towns
Windham vs Dedham vs Standish
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%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Dedham | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,656Lowest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dedham 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% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$104,593±$15kLowest 40% above ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$336,000±$18kLowest 13% above ME |
| Windham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
| Dedham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 30% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,005Lowest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Standish 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 ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Standish 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

