Compare towns

Windham vs Plainfield 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

Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.

MeasureWindhamPlainfieldGrayBerwick
People
Population
19,188Highest
2,522Lowest
8,429
8,175
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Berwick 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%
19.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainfield 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gray and Plainfield 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.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
$94,771±$24kLowest
17% above U.S.
Plainfield 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.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
$369,100±$19k
11% above U.S.
Plainfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
Plainfield 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.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,436
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Berwick 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%
5.2%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%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 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 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
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 #19 of 120 in NH #10 of 133 in ME #101 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Plainfield School District RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Windham High School None in town Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town
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.