Compare towns
Gorham vs Dracut vs 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Dracut | Windham | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
32,574Highest |
19,188 |
8,512Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Windham 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% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buxton and Dracut 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Dracut 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±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #201 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Dracut | RSU 14 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Dracut Senior High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.