Compare towns
Windham vs Hampden vs New Gloucester vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
New Gloucester has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Hampden | New Gloucester | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
7,896 |
5,766Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME |
| Gray and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
19%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Gray and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and Hampden 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 44% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$108,797±$12k 46% above ME |
$95,236±$8kLowest 27% above ME |
| Hampden and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$357,100±$29k 20% above ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
| 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 8% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,150±$249Lowest about the ME average |
$1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
| Gray and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
$3,417Lowest 13% above ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #65 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | RSU 22 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Hampden Academy | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— | 12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.