Compare towns
Gorham vs Rochester vs 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%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Rochester | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Lowest |
33,144Highest |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Rochester and 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% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,934±$14k 34% 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. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Rochester 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. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Gorham 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Rochester School District | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Spaulding High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.