Compare towns
Windham vs Jay vs Hampden vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Jay | Hampden | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
4,657Lowest |
7,896 |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
40.7±2.9 9% below ME |
| Windham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Berwick 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% |
19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Jay 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% |
29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$94,771±$24k 27% 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 |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
$369,100±$19k 24% above ME |
| Windham and Berwick 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 |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
| Berwick and Hampden 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 |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
$4,436Highest 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick 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% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Berwick 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | RSU 73 | RSU 22 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Spruce Mountain High School | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.7 |
14.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.