Compare towns
Windham vs Lake Arrowhead 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%).
Lake Arrowhead has the youngest population (median age 33).
Hampden has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Lake Arrowhead | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
3,322Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME |
41±2.9 8% 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%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.9%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Lake Arrowhead and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
7.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Hampden 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% ME: 36.2% |
26.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Lake Arrowhead 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 |
$98,654±$9kLowest 32% 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 |
$267,300±$19kLowest 10% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
$2,288±$327Highest 101% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Windham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% ME: 10.7% |
2.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±4Lowest 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 Our Story | 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.