Compare towns

Gray vs Bedford 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

Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).

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.

MeasureGrayBedfordWindham
People
Population
8,429Lowest
23,746Highest
19,188
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
45±2.2Highest
16% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
Bedford and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Bedford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bedford and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
63%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
$107,934±$14k
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
$612,100±$26kHighest
84% above U.S.
$388,900±$22k
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
$3,938
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bedford and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #10 of 133 in ME #7 of 120 in NH #95 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Bedford School District RSU 14
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Bedford High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5
13.5Highest
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.