Compare towns
Windham vs Waldo vs Mapleton vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Waldo | Mapleton | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
926Lowest |
1,884 |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Gray and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
| Gray and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Waldo 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 | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | 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 | None yet |
ME 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.