Compare towns
Acton vs Gorham vs Windham vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
18,300 |
19,188Highest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318 12% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Windham High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.1 |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.