Compare towns
Gorham vs Sterling vs Windham vs Hampden
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%).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 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 | Sterling | Windham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
8,183 |
19,188Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Gorham 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% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Sterling 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 19% above U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sterling 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Wachusett | RSU 14 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Windham High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.