Compare towns
Franklin vs Gray vs Mapleton vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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.
| Measure | Franklin | Gray | Mapleton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628Lowest |
8,429 |
1,884 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
| Franklin and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 22% below ME |
$1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
| Gray and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 27% below ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Gray 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 |
| School district | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 14 |
| High school 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 |
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.