Compare towns
Winthrop vs Windham vs Steep Falls vs Wayne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winthrop has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Steep Falls has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Winthrop | Windham | Steep Falls | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,191 |
19,188Highest |
1,861 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$80,280±$33kLowest 7% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Windham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$41k about the ME average |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$243,400±$31kLowest 18% below ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
| Windham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,506 15% above ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$3,273Lowest 8% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 | #12 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 14 | — | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | Windham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.