Compare towns
Gorham vs Melrose vs 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%).
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
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 | Melrose | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Lowest |
29,650Highest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Windham 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% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Melrose 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% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose 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% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Melrose and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Melrose and Gorham 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% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #62 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Melrose | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Melrose High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.