Compare towns

Ashland vs Gorham vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k 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.

MeasureAshlandGorhamWindham
People
Population
18,873
18,300Lowest
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.1±1.4Highest
8% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
Ashland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7
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+
18.2%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$127,539±$11kHighest
58% above U.S.
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
$107,934±$14kLowest
34% above U.S.
Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$611,700±$18kHighest
84% above U.S.
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
$388,900±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,452±$298Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,444Highest
139% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.2%±14.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Lowest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ashland and Gorham 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 #42 of 282 in MA #24 of 133 in ME #95 of 133 in ME
School district Ashland Gorham Public Schools RSU 14
High school in town Ashland High Gorham High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Highest
12.9
12.1Lowest
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.