Compare towns
Windham vs Limestone vs Hampden 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%).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Limestone | Hampden | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,579Lowest |
7,896 |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
45.3±4.9Highest about the ME average |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
| Limestone 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 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Limestone 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% ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone 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 44% above ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
| Hampden 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±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
$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 |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$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 |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest 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% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest 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 | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | RSU 22 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Windham High School | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | Hampden Academy | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
8.6Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.