Compare towns
Windham vs Salisbury 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
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Gray has the most renters (17.6% rent).
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.
| Measure | Windham | Salisbury | Gray | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,609Lowest |
8,429 |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%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. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Salisbury 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Windham 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. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Windham and Berwick 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. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury 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. |
$5,859Highest 88% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.1%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% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Berwick 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Merrimack Valley 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.