Compare towns
Gorham vs South Windham vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
South Windham has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300Highest |
1,212Lowest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
36.5±13.2Lowest 19% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.9%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% 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±$26k 55% above ME |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
| Wells and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$1,824±$2kHighest 60% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% 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 |
$3,215 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
24.5%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.