Compare towns
Windham vs Salem 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Salem | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188 |
30,964Highest |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Salem and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Gray 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% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Salem 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% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Salem 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. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Salem 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 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 |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Salem School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Salem High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.