Compare towns

Fairlee 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

Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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.

MeasureFairleeGorhamWindham
People
Population
1,066Lowest
18,300
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
12.2%±4.2Lowest
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+
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,760±$10kLowest
7% 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
$274,200±$39kLowest
18% below U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$388,900±$22k
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,232±$332
13% below U.S.
Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617Highest
80% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 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
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
15%±7.9Lowest
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 — #24 of 133 in ME #95 of 133 in ME
School district Rivendell Interstate School District Gorham Public Schools RSU 14
High school 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

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.