Compare towns
Gray vs Brunswick vs Windham vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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 | Gray | Brunswick | Windham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
17,652 |
19,188Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME |
37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Gray and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
23%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Brunswick 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% ME: 36.2% |
51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
$70,722±$5kLowest 5% below ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$363,200±$18k 22% above ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 20% above ME |
$1,465±$100Highest 29% above ME |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Brunswick and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 21% above ME |
$4,477Highest 47% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 ME: 48.4% |
58.8%±9.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 16% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Windham 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 | #30 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | RSU 14 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | Windham High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.