Compare towns

Windham vs Natick 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).

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.

MeasureWindhamNatickGray
People
Population
19,188
36,873Highest
8,429Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
43.3±1.4
11% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
Gray and Natick 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%
21.2%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Natick and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Natick 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Natick 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
34% above U.S.
$138,538±$11kHighest
72% above U.S.
$95,236±$8kLowest
18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$388,900±$22k
17% above U.S.
$821,000±$25kHighest
147% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$2,134±$124Highest
51% above U.S.
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,938
26% above U.S.
$8,914Highest
186% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±6.6
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Natick 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%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
25.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #95 of 133 in ME #48 of 282 in MA #10 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Natick RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town Windham High School Natick High Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
12.6Highest
12.5
On TownTapestry
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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.