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 people working from home (19%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Standish has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Gray has the most renters (17.6% rent).
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 |
913Lowest |
10,662 |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Windham 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest 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±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
| Windham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$983±$453 30% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Highest 26% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,005 4% below U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish 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% |
4.3% 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% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Exeter 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | — | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Windham High School | — | Bonny Eagle High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.