Compare towns
Windham vs Strafford vs Gray vs Standish
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%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Gray has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Strafford | Gray | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
4,306Lowest |
8,429 |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Gray 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. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Standish 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Strafford School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
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.