Compare towns
Windham vs Natick vs Gray vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Natick | Gray | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
36,873Highest |
8,429 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% 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%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Natick 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% |
17.2%±3.6 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% |
45.9% 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% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below 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 |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,694 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest 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. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below 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% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Natick and Hampden 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Natick | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Natick High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.6 |
12.5 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.