Compare towns
Gorham vs Jay vs South Windham vs Gray
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 most affordable homes ($234k median).
South Windham has the highest household income ($133k).
Gray has the oldest housing (typical home built 1983).
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 | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
471Lowest |
1,212 |
8,429 |
| 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% |
+6.5% 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. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 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% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% 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% |
5.4%±2.2 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. |
$95,236±$8k 18% 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. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,824±$2kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Jay 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest 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% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 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. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — | 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.