Compare towns
Gorham vs Benson 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
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
North Windham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Benson | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
784Lowest |
5,417 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Benson and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,522±$8k 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$342,800±$29k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,248±$604 12% below U.S. |
| Gorham and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Windham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.