Compare towns
Windham vs Acton vs Andover vs Townshend
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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Acton has the most homeowners (96.1%).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 | Acton | Andover | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
2,721Highest |
616 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Andover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Townshend 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Acton Public Schools | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.