Compare towns
Gorham vs Freeport vs Gray vs South 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%).
Freeport has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Gray has the most homeowners (82.4%).
South Windham has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | Freeport | Gray | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
8,802 |
8,429 |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
36.5±13.2Lowest 19% below ME |
| Freeport and Gray 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% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.8% ME: 36.2% |
35.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
6.9%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and South Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$95,236±$8kLowest 27% above ME |
$133,223±$21kHighest 78% above ME |
| South Windham 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 55% above ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% above ME |
| Freeport 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 47% above ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,371±$89Lowest 20% above ME |
$1,824±$2kHighest 60% above ME |
| South Windham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 59% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
$2,941Lowest 3% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24 ME: 48.4% |
0%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Gray 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% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.5%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| South Windham and Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 05 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Freeport High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.2Lowest |
12.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.