Compare towns
Windham vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Gray | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
16,151 |
8,429Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%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% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 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 | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% 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 | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 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 | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% 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% |
69.1%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. |
1979Lowest 1 yr 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 |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.