Compare towns
Buxton vs Castleton 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
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Buxton | Castleton | Gorham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
4,453Lowest |
18,300 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 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+ | 19.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 24% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% 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 | $356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 133 in ME | #39 of 70 in VT | #24 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.