Compare towns
Windsor vs Jackson vs Chelsea
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 oldest population (median age 43.5).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($182k 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 | Windsor | Jackson | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,690 |
567Lowest |
2,823Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±8Highest about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
42.2±3.6 6% below ME |
| Windsor and Chelsea 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chelsea 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% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chelsea and Jackson 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chelsea 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 |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$85,471±$10kHighest 14% above ME |
| Chelsea and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $228,800±$22k 23% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$182,300±$37kLowest 39% below ME |
| Jackson and Windsor 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 |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,373±$90Highest 21% above ME |
| Chelsea 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 |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,313 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±31.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
15%±19.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Windsor and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 45% above ME |
35 minLowest 41% above ME |
36 minHighest 48% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±3 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson 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 | — | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 12 | — | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.