Compare towns
Windham vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
1,372Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Windham 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Strafford 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Strafford School District | 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 |
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.