Compare towns
Gorham vs Mapleton vs Steep Falls 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).
Steep Falls has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Steep Falls | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,884 |
1,861 |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average |
36.5±13.2Lowest 19% below ME |
| Steep Falls 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%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls and Mapleton 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%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%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% |
3.5%±3.8Lowest 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 |
$80,280±$33kLowest 7% above 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 |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$314,300±$81k 6% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,516±$1k 33% above 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 |
$3,273 8% 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% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls 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% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest 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 | — | — |
| 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 | 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.