Compare towns
Gorham vs Jay 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%).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Jay | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
471Lowest |
1,212 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Jay and Gorham 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Jay 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% |
45.1%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% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$314,300±$81k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Lowest 19% above 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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,941Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.