Compare towns
Canton vs Gorham vs North 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
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | Canton | Gorham | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Highest |
18,300 |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Canton and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,248±$604Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and North Windham 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Gorham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Canton High | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.

