Compare towns
Gorham vs Bristol vs North 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%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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 | Bristol | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
2,917Lowest |
5,417 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
42±3 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
$88,522±$8kLowest 18% above ME |
| Gorham and Bristol 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 |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
$342,800±$29kLowest 16% above ME |
| Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,248±$604 10% above ME |
| 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 59% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,546 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.7%±14.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and North Windham 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% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and North Windham 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 | #16 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Bristol Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.