Compare towns
Gorham vs North Windham vs Reading
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%).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | North Windham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
5,417 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and North 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% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8k 10% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,248±$604 12% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Gorham and North 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. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and North 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 | — | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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 |
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.