Compare towns
Gorham vs Chesterville 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%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% 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 | Chesterville | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
1,397Lowest |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
| Windham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$61,635±$10kLowest 18% 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 |
$214,000±$40kLowest 28% below ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,088±$73Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
| Gorham and 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 |
$2,194Lowest 28% below ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Windham 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% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.