Compare towns
Castleton vs Gray vs Saco 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
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Castleton | Gray | Saco | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
8,429 |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Saco and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above 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 | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #10 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | 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.