Compare towns
Gorham vs South Windham vs Buxton
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%).
South Windham has the most people working from home (24.5%).
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | South Windham | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,212Lowest |
8,512 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
36.5±13.2Lowest 19% below ME |
45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
| Buxton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Buxton 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% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.2%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton 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% |
35.6% ME: 36.2% |
30.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.9%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 50% above ME |
$133,223±$21kHighest 78% above ME |
$100,144±$21kLowest 34% above ME |
| 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 55% above ME |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% above ME |
$356,800±$21k 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,824±$2kHighest 60% above ME |
$1,613±$266Lowest 42% above ME |
| South Windham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,941Lowest 3% below ME |
$3,422 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
24.5%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| South Windham and Gorham 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 | — | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.