Compare towns

Exeter 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

Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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.

MeasureExeterGorhamNorth Windham
People
Population
16,151
18,300Highest
5,417Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
42±3
8% above U.S.
Exeter and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter 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+
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
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
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$88,522±$8kLowest
10% above U.S.
Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$342,800±$29kLowest
3% above U.S.
Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
$1,248±$604Lowest
12% below U.S.
Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$3,546Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±14.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Windham and Exeter 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 #22 of 120 in NH #24 of 133 in ME —
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Gorham Public Schools —
High school in town Exeter High School Gorham High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
12.9Highest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.