Compare towns
Gorham vs Biddeford vs Hampden 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).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Hampden | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
22,498Highest |
7,896Lowest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
| Windham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest 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% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest 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±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
| Gorham and Hampden 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 |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,232±$332Lowest 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 |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Biddeford 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 22 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Biddeford High School | Hampden Academy | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
14.1 |
14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.