Compare towns
Gorham vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | Strafford | Windham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
1,372Lowest |
19,188Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%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 |
51.4±4.7Highest 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%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% |
5.1%±2.6 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±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampden 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Hampden 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% 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% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2% 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% |
88.9%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 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below 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% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Strafford School District | 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.