Compare towns
Gorham vs Putnam vs Windham vs Buxton
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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Buxton has the most renters (19.7% rent).
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 | Putnam | Windham | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
540Lowest |
19,188Highest |
8,512 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Buxton 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Windham 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21k 24% above U.S. |
| 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 39% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Windham 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | RSU 14 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.