Compare towns
Gray vs Exeter vs Windham vs Raymond
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Raymond has the most people working from home (32.3%).
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 | Exeter | Windham | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
16,151 |
19,188Highest |
4,610Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.3±4.1Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Raymond and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Raymond 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Raymond 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$88,194±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$395,800±$42k 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$965±$397Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,139Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±62.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.3%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Raymond and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #95 of 133 in ME | #112 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 14 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Exeter High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.