Compare towns
Windham vs Salem vs Hampden
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%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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 | Salem | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
44,795Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Windham 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% |
17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Hampden 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. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| 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±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Hampden 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Salem | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Salem High | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.