Compare towns

Windham vs Mount Desert vs Brookline

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 renters (17.1% rent).
Mount Desert has the most expensive homes ($522k median).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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.

MeasureWindhamMount DesertBrookline
People
Population
594
1,671Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
54.9±8.2Highest
41% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Mount Desert and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Windham 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%
29.1%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Mount Desert 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%
64.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Mount Desert and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$92,813±$9k
15% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Windham and Mount Desert 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.
$522,100±$66kHighest
57% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,341±$89Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,512Lowest
13% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±31.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookline and Windham 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%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.1%±9.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mount Desert Public Schools —
High school in town — None in town —
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.