Compare towns
Windham vs Sterling vs Little Falls
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Little Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.9%).
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 | Sterling | Little Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
8,183 |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.3±21.2 19% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Little Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±16.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Little Falls 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sterling 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±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$127,500±$72k 58% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Little Falls 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. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$375,800±$96kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
$2,205±$101Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,041 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
15.3%±31.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sterling and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 14 | Wachusett | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 2 photos → |
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.