Compare towns
Windham vs Dedham vs Gray vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Windham | Dedham | Gray | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
25,237Highest |
8,429Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest 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+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.