Compare towns
Windham vs Durham 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 most homeowners (84.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
15,080 |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as 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. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Oyster River High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.