Compare towns

Durham vs Gorham vs Windham vs Lisbon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k 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.

MeasureDurhamGorhamWindhamLisbon
People
Population
4,262Lowest
18,300
19,188Highest
9,750
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
ME: +2.6%
+11.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+8.4%
ME: +2.6%
+7.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
42.6±5.9Highest
5% below ME
39.4±2.9
12% below ME
41.8±1.8
7% below ME
38.4±2.9Lowest
14% below ME
Durham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
19.2%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±4Highest
ME: 18.1%
Lisbon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
17.5%±2.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
16.2%±3.2
ME: 22.4%
Gorham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.8%
ME: 36.2%
44.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
44.2%
ME: 36.2%
23.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3.1
ME: 5.8%
13.1%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.3%±1.8
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,181±$5k
33% above ME
$112,312±$6kHighest
50% above ME
$107,934±$14k
44% above ME
$77,819±$9kLowest
4% 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
$322,200±$34k
9% above ME
$460,900±$26kHighest
55% above ME
$388,900±$22k
31% above ME
$258,300±$26kLowest
13% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,680±$355Highest
47% above ME
$1,232±$332
8% above ME
$979±$286Lowest
14% below ME
Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,781
25% above ME
$4,825Highest
59% above ME
$3,938
30% above ME
$3,324Lowest
9% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
37.9%±8.6
ME: 48.4%
32.7%±14.7
ME: 48.4%
43.4%±14.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
Lisbon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
ME: 10.7%
3.7%
ME: 10.7%
3.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.5%
ME: 74.3%
84.6%
ME: 74.3%
74.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
1973Lowest
4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
13% above ME
27 min
10% above ME
26 minLowest
7% above ME
29 minHighest
17% above ME
Work from home
20.9%±5.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.7
ME: 15.9%
19%±4.1
ME: 15.9%
18.1%±9.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Durham 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 #14 of 133 in ME #24 of 133 in ME #95 of 133 in ME #60 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Gorham Public Schools RSU 14 Lisbon Public Schools
High school in town None in town Gorham High School Windham High School Lisbon High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9
12.1Lowest
15.8Highest
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.