Compare towns
Gorham vs Windham vs Needham vs South Windham
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%).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
South Windham has the most affordable homes ($314k 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 | Windham | Needham | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
19,188 |
32,459Highest |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±5.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 39% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$133,223±$21k 65% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,824±$2k 29% above U.S. |
| Needham and South Windham 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,941Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and South Windham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 14 | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Windham High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.