Compare towns
Gorham vs Salisbury 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 the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
South Windham has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
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 | Salisbury | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
9,281 |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±5.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and South Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above 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±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,824±$2kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| South Windham and Salisbury 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. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$2,941Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Windham and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Triton | — |
| 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.