Compare towns
Belfast vs Gorham vs Windham vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belfast has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Belfast | Gorham | Windham | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,986 |
18,300 |
19,188Highest |
5,046Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1 35% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Harpswell and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above 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 | $340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
| Gorham and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145 37% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$3,141Lowest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell 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 | #84 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 71 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | Gorham High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.9Highest |
12.1 |
— |
| 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.