Compare towns
Acton vs Gorham vs Windham vs Livermore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Livermore has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Acton | Gorham | Windham | Livermore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
18,300 |
19,188Highest |
1,868Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
51.4±3.5 15% above ME |
| Acton and Livermore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Livermore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
21.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$70,441±$10kLowest 6% below ME |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$221,800±$23kLowest 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% above ME |
— |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$2,237Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Livermore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.5%±7.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.