Compare towns
Gorham vs Andover vs Windham vs Buxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Gorham | Andover | Windham | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
36,652Highest |
19,188 |
8,512Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buxton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #68 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | RSU 14 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.