Compare towns
Gorham vs Ellsworth 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%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
North Windham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Ellsworth | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
8,657 |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
43±2.4Highest 4% below ME |
42±3 6% below ME |
| Ellsworth and North Windham 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% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Ellsworth 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% |
22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Ellsworth and North 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% |
39.3% ME: 36.2% |
37%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
$88,522±$8k 18% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$342,800±$29k 16% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% 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 |
$3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
$3,546 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 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%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| North 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Ellsworth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.