Compare towns
Windsor vs Carmel vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Windsor | Carmel | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,690 |
2,941Highest |
2,647Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±8 about the ME average |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
| Carmel and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Jefferson and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,178±$5kLowest 15% below ME |
$82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
| Jefferson and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $228,800±$22kLowest 23% below ME |
$256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
| Jefferson and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$400 11% above ME |
$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
| Carmel and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,662Highest 12% below ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 45% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Jefferson and Windsor 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 | #44 of 133 in ME | #77 of 133 in ME | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.