Compare towns
Windham vs Middlesex vs Topsham vs Berwick
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 the most expensive homes ($389k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Topsham | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,943Lowest |
9,706 |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Topsham 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 34% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Windham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Topsham 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.