Compare towns

Barnstead vs Gray vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Gray has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Windham has the most people working from home (19%).

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.

MeasureBarnsteadGrayWindham
People
Population
4,994Lowest
8,429
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
Gray and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Barnstead and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Barnstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,660±$12kHighest
38% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
$107,934±$14k
34% above U.S.
Barnstead and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,400±$25kLowest
9% above U.S.
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$388,900±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
Barnstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,003Highest
92% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$3,938
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Barnstead 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 #111 of 120 in NH #10 of 133 in ME #95 of 133 in ME
School district Barnstead School District RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences RSU 14
High school in town None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5Highest
12.1Lowest
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.