Compare towns
Gray vs Newfields vs Topsham 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
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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.
| Measure | Gray | Newfields | Topsham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
2,023Lowest |
9,706 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Newfields School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 12.2 |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.