Compare towns
Gray vs Lisbon Falls 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).
Lisbon Falls has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Lisbon Falls | Windham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
4,267Lowest |
19,188Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME |
41.1±4.4 8% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
41±2.9Lowest 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% |
18.9%±3.6Lowest 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%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Gray and Lisbon Falls 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% |
24.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 27% above ME |
$72,344±$9kLowest 3% 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 |
$245,700±$25kLowest 17% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$301,300±$38k 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±$89Highest 20% above ME |
$971±$450Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Gray and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 21% above ME |
$2,947Lowest about the ME average |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.9%±18 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Windham 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% |
5.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% ME: 74.3% |
70.1%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 |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 16% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #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.