Compare towns
Gorham vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs South Windham
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,884 |
1,360 |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
36.5±13.2Lowest 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.9%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$133,223±$21kHighest 78% above ME |
| 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 55% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$314,300±$81k 6% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,824±$2kHighest 60% above ME |
| 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 59% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,941 3% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton 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 ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
24.5%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.