Compare towns
Windham vs Exeter vs Standish vs Gray
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 most kids (19.2% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Standish | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
16,151 |
10,662 |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% 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. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,683 18% 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% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Standish 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School | Bonny Eagle High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.