Compare towns
Gorham vs Hanover 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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
South Windham has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
11,685 |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
36.5±13.2 6% below U.S. |
| Gorham and South 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Gorham 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$133,223±$21k 65% above U.S. |
| Hanover and South Windham 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,824±$2k 29% above U.S. |
| Hanover and South Windham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,941Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 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 |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.