Compare towns
Gorham vs Gray vs Plainfield 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 most homeowners (82.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
South Windham has the most people working from home (24.5%).
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 | Gray | Plainfield | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
8,429 |
1,314 |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% 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. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Gray 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
48.2%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% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below 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. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below 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 |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% 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 | $4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% 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%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Gray 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below 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% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — | — |
| 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.