Compare towns
Gorham vs Oakland vs 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%).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Oakland | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
6,309Lowest |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
40.2±6.9 10% below ME |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
| Windham and Oakland 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% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland 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% |
18.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Oakland 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% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
| Gorham and Windham 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 |
$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$939±$74Lowest 18% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
| Gorham and Windham 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 |
$2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,938 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 10% above ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #23 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 18 | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Messalonskee High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
14.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.