Compare towns
Gorham vs Putney vs Westminster 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
South Windham has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | Putney | Westminster | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
2,622 |
2,999 |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Westminster 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±5.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$133,223±$21kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| South Windham and Gorham 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$314,300±$81k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
$1,824±$2kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| South Windham 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$2,941Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Westminster 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.