Compare towns
Gorham vs Gray vs Middlesex vs South Windham
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%).
Gray has the oldest housing (typical home built 1983).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Gray | Middlesex | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
8,429 |
1,943 |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±5.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 39% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$133,223±$21kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| 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±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,824±$2kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| 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 55% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,941Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and South 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.