Compare towns
Gorham vs Biddeford vs Belfast vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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.
| Measure | Gorham | Biddeford | Belfast | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
22,498Highest |
6,986Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
+4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9% ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Biddeford 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 50% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
$4,145 37% above ME |
$3,938Lowest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
68.5% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1967 10 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME | #84 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 71 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Biddeford High School | Belfast Area High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
14.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.