Compare towns
Gray vs Lancaster vs Windham vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Lancaster | Windham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
3,216Lowest |
19,188Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Hampden 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
| 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±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Gray and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #95 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | White Mountains Regional School District | RSU 14 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Windham High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.