Compare towns
Gorham vs Wakefield vs Windham vs Buxton
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%).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Buxton has the most renters (19.7% rent).
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 | Wakefield | Windham | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
5,405Lowest |
19,188Highest |
8,512 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Windham 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% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buxton and Wakefield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Windham 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. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Buxton 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. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Windham 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #118 of 120 in NH | #95 of 133 in ME | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Wakefield School District | RSU 14 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.