Compare towns
Windham vs Mars Hill vs Union
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%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Mars Hill | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,398Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
43.4±3Highest 3% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mars Hill 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% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill and Union 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 ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill 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±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Windham and Union 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 |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Windham and Mars Hill 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% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Union 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 14 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
8.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.