Compare towns
Gorham vs Canton vs North Windham vs Buxton
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 the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Canton | North Windham | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
24,748Highest |
5,417Lowest |
8,512 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buxton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21k 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,248±$604Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,546 14% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | — | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Canton High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.