Compare towns
Gorham vs Bridgewater vs South 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%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
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 | Bridgewater | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
484Lowest |
1,212 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
48.8±8Highest 9% above ME |
36.5±13.2Lowest 19% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Bridgewater 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% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.9%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and South Windham 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 50% above ME |
$65,417±$15kLowest 12% below ME |
$133,223±$21kHighest 78% above ME |
| 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 55% above ME |
$154,900±$78kLowest 48% below ME |
$314,300±$81k 6% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$768±$116Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,824±$2kHighest 60% above ME |
| 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 59% above ME |
$1,417Lowest 53% below ME |
$2,941 3% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater 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 ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.5%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.