Compare towns
Windham vs Webster vs Gray vs Topsham
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 highest household income ($108k).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Webster | Gray | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
17,748 |
8,429Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Gray 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 34% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| 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 13% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Gray and Topsham 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. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,259Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Topsham 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Webster | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Bartlett High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.6Lowest |
12.5Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.