Compare towns

Windham vs Lowell vs Gray vs Berwick

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 highest household income ($108k).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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.

MeasureWindhamLowellGrayBerwick
People
Population
19,188
118,368Highest
8,429
8,175Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
35.6±0.8Lowest
8% below U.S.
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Lowell 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%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Gray and Berwick 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%
30%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
$78,658±$4kLowest
about the U.S. average
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
$94,771±$24k
17% above U.S.
Windham and Gray 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.
$429,200±$11kHighest
29% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
$369,100±$19k
11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,625±$40Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
Lowell and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,938
26% above U.S.
$4,499Highest
44% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,436
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Lowell 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%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick 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 #255 of 282 in MA #10 of 133 in ME #101 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Lowell RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Windham High School Lowell High Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
14.8Highest
12.5
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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.