Compare towns
Gorham vs Jay vs Windham vs South Berwick
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%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Jay | Windham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
4,657Lowest |
19,188Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick 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 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Jay 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
| Gorham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
| Gorham and South Berwick 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 |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| South Berwick 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 |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick and Gorham 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% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #86 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 73 | RSU 14 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Spruce Mountain High School | Windham High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
12.7 |
12.1Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.