Compare towns
Windham vs Strafford vs Standish
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
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 | Strafford | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,372Lowest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Windham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Strafford 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Strafford School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| 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.