Compare towns
Gorham vs Needham vs Gray 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
South Windham has the most affordable homes ($314k 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 | Needham | Gray | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
32,459Highest |
8,429 |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Gray and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Lowest 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$133,223±$21k 65% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,824±$2k 29% above U.S. |
| Needham and South Windham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$2,941Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Needham | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Needham High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.5 |
— |
| 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.