Compare towns
Windham vs Pepperell vs Gray vs North Windham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
North Windham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Pepperell | Gray | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
11,663 |
8,429 |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Gray and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and North Windham 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% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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 34% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,248±$604 12% below U.S. |
| Gray and Pepperell 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Windham 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 14 | North Middlesex | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.