Compare towns
Windham vs Gardner vs Standish
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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Gardner | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
21,148Highest |
10,662Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Windham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Windham and Gardner 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. |
$4,150Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Gardner | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Gardner High | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.