Compare towns

Worcester vs Windham 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

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Gray has the most renters (17.6% rent).

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.

MeasureWorcesterWindhamGray
People
Population
831Lowest
19,188Highest
8,429
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
Worcester and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±4
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+
19.5%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Worcester and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$107,934±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% 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
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$388,900±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
$363,700±$20k
9% 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
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,232±$332
13% 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
$4,421Highest
42% above U.S.
$3,938
26% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Windham 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 RSU 14 RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town None in town Windham High School 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.