Compare towns
Gorham vs Benson vs Windham vs South 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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
South Windham has the most people working from home (24.5%).
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 | Windham | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
784Lowest |
19,188Highest |
1,212 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Benson and 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±5.5 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±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$133,223±$21kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| South Windham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$314,300±$81k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,824±$2kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| South Windham and Gorham 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$2,941Lowest 6% below 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% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 14 | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | 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 | 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.