Compare towns
Windham vs Exeter vs Hampden
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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Exeter | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,093Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Hampden 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden 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 44% above ME |
$84,408±$12kLowest 13% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| 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 31% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter 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% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | — | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.