Compare towns
Windham vs Sturbridge 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%).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Sturbridge | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
9,960Lowest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Windham 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Windham and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Windham 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
7.7Lowest |
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.