Compare towns
Windham vs Dorset vs Topsham
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Dorset | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
2,092Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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 34% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.