Compare towns
Brighton vs Gray vs Windham vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Brighton | Gray | Windham | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
8,429 |
19,188Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brighton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below 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 | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Gray and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,938Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Barton 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton 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 | 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.